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Organize Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar this Labor Day!
Labor Day Weekend 2006 is an important moment for the labor movement.
- August 29 will mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which unmasked so glaringly our country's callous disregard for the least fortunate among us.
- The immigrant rights movement will continue to push our country towards a humane immigration policy.
- Union and non-union hotel workers across the country are joining together to make low-wage service jobs into middle-class jobs with family-sustaining benefits.
- Organizations will be ramping up their efforts to raise the minimum wage through federal legislation and statewide ballot initiatives.
- Thousands of workers and people of faith will use the occasion as an opportunity to move forward on the campaigns that represent America's better side.
The religious community will continue to play a significant role in all of these campaigns and many other important efforts to improve the lives of low-wage workers.
Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar is a great opportunity for people of faith to use the moral voices of our faith communities to support these important struggles around the country. Congregations will focus Labor Day weekend services on the religious values that call us to stand up for justice for workers.
Some invite a union member or labor leader to talk about the connection between religious values and that person's work in the labor movement; others invite a worker to talk about the experience of low-wage work to supplement the clergyperson's sermon on worker justice. Labor Day services are a great opportunity for congregations to support key campaigns by getting congregants to sign postcards to corporate executives or elected officials in specific campaigns or by publicizing an upcoming event or rally.
Think creatively about how best to plan a Labor Day service that will provide support to those struggling for justice on the job and lift up everyone's spirits in the process. IWJ provides a variety of worship resources and campaign materials that will help you plan a successful Labor Day weekend service.
If there is a local IWJ group in your area, that group can connect your congregation with a union member or labor leader who can talk about the connection between his or her faith and the struggle for justice in the workplace. Labor Day speakers receive special training and sample reflections to help them develop their presentations.
Start planning now!
Congregations organize Labor Day services on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before Labor Day or special services on Labor Day Monday. If your worship service or congregation's tradition does not accommodate outside speakers, you could use these speakers before or after mass or at adult or teen education classes, or your pastor could incorporate a worker justice theme into the worship service.
If you are interested in organizing Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar at your congregation, please sign up here with the number of congregations planning to participate for use in publicizing the program locally.
If you have any questions or would like to brainstorm ideas for a Labor Day service, contact Will Tanzman at Interfaith Worker Justice, 773-728-8400, ext. 16.
Interfaith Worker Justice relies on contributions to support its work. Your tax-deductible gift will be strategically used to further justice for workers throughout the United States.
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