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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Kim Bobo <a
href="mailto:info@iwj.org">info@iwj.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <br>
</span><img border=0 width=217 height=91 id="_x0000_i1026"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01C956DC.F78E1ED0"
alt="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1035/images/logo%5B1%5D.jpg"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Dear friend,<br>
<br>
The election offers opportunities for Interfaith Worker Justice to move forward
an agenda that can help workers now and put in place structures that can
support workers in coming decades. <br>
<br>
With your help, we will:<br>
<br>
1) <b>Pass the Employee Free Choice Act.</b> We have an opportunity early in
the new Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. This important, although
strikingly simple, bill would make it easier for workers to join unions and get
first contracts. We will be asking you to contact your Senators in the New
Year. To learn more, click <a
href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=MwBzlEauPIPxpA%2BvlT4xLdONLx6RnU9F">here</a>.<br>
<br>
2) <b>Stop Wage Theft.</b> Interfaith Worker Justice is putting the issue of
wage theft on the national agenda, both through the incredible work done by
workers centers, the policy work in Washington, D.C. and my new book, Wage
Theft in America. We'll send order information about the book next week, but
you can begin talking with your congregation about a Spring congregational
study using the book. A congregational study guide is included with the book
and available on line <a
href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=GmlDvs%2BjDPKgqH8veBgqFdONLx6RnU9F">here</a>.
It is critical that we support a reinvigorated Department of Labor that will
aggressively enforce labor laws and deter wage theft. <br>
<br>
3) <b>Stop the Workplace Raids.</b> We are calling upon the Bush administration
to stop the workplace immigration raids - immediately. Send a letter to Michael
Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and cc Nicolas J.
Smith, Chief of Staff of Immigration and Customs Enforcement: 245 Murray Lane
Building, Washington DC 20528; Fax # 202-282-8401. When President-elect Obama
has chosen his team, we will ask you to contact them as well. Click <a
href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=wQJTmChov8oVdVl07P9nnNONLx6RnU9F">here</a>
to read the Interfaith Worker Justice Board of Director's statement condemning
workplace immigration raids<br>
<br>
4) <b>Create and support Living Wage Jobs.</b> It has been so long since the
federal government played a visible role in helping create and support living wage
jobs that we've almost forgotten that this is an appropriate role for the
federal government - to support, encourage and enable job creation and a
raising of standards throughout the society.<br>
<br>
It feels like the best of times and the worst of times. It is an exciting time
in terms of new opportunities and new leadership. It is also a scary time in
terms of overall conditions for working families. Our work is more important
than ever.<br>
<br>
Let us pray for our nation's new (and old) leadership and do our share to lift
up the concerns of working families.<br>
<br>
Praying for the future,<br>
<img border=0 width=170 height=108 id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:image002.jpg@01C956DC.F78E1ED0"
alt="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1035/images/kimsig.jpg"><br>
<br>
<br>
Kim Bobo<br>
Executive Director<br>
Interfaith Worker Justice <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>TO
UNSUBSCRIBE, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Unsub
Workers' Rights".<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>[Workers'
Rights] posts opportunities for you to learn about and show solidarity with
workplace and working class struggles. And these events are opportunities for
JwJ members to fulfill their pledge: <a href="http://www.jwj.org/pledge.html"><span
style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'>"</span><span style='color:blue'>I'll
be there for workers' rights at least five times a year!</span><span
style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'>"</span></a> This is the core
mission of Jobs with Justice (<a href="http://www.jwj.org/"><span
style='color:blue'>www.jwj.org</span></a>), affirming that workers' rights are
human rights. To subscribe, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of
"Subscribe Workers' Rights".<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Western
Mass Jobs with Justice<br>
640 Page Blvd #101<br>
Springfield MA 01104<br>
(413) 827-0301 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><o:p> </o:p></p>
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