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- 5-24-09: Vincent Gray Doesn't Get the Message
- 8-17-09: JUFJ Announces Jeremiah Fellowship
- 8-14-09: Fenty Administration Implements Long-Awaited Affordable Housing Law
- 8-3-09: Statement by JUFJ Rabbi in Residence Elizabeth Richman on Slayings at Tel Aviv LGBT Center
- 7-17-09: Statement by Rabbi Gilah Langner on behalf of JUFJ
- 7-3-09: Open Letter to Prince George's County Hearing Board
- 6-24-09 Dozens of Residents Speak Out on Purple Line Development in Langley Park
- 6-23-09: Testimony by Jacob Feinspan to the Prince George's County Planning Board
- 6-23-09: Testimony by JUFJ Intern Shira Dickler to the Prince George's County Planning Board
- 4-17-09: DOES Commits to Stronger Enforcement
- 4-8-09: JUFJ Executive Director Jacob Feinspan's Testimony Before D.C. Council Committee on Finance and Revenue
- 4-1-09 JUFJ's 8th Annual Labor Seder Focuses on the Plight of Day Laborers
- 3-19-09: JUFJ's Program Director Darya Mattes Testifies before D.C. Committee on Housing and Workforce Development
- 7-18-08 JUFJ Celebrates Victory for Domestic Workers
- 6-26-08 Jewish Groups Respond to Kosher Meat Scandal
- 5-23-08 - JUFJ responds to kosher meat scandal
- Tikkun Leil Shabbat
4-1-09 JUFJ's 8th Annual Labor Seder Focuses on the Plight of Day Laborers
LABOR SEDER ATTENDEES HEAR PLIGHT OF DAY LABORERS AND OFFER SUPPORT
Group Pledges Support for More Protections for Day Laborers and Establishment of Day Labor Center
March 31, 2009: In a filled-to-capacity room at Congregation Tifereth Israel, more than 200 people, including members of Jews United for Justice (JUFJ), community allies, labor leaders and DC day laborers, tied the Passover story of freedom from slavery directly to the efforts by DC day laborers to gain rights and control over their working conditions through the establishment of a Worker Center in Washington, D.C.
Noe Perez was one of the day laborers who spoke. A former employer owes him more than $2,000, but nothing has happened to his claim since he filed it two years ago. "I realize that injustice is everywhere, but I'm still inspired to move forward," he said through an interpreter. "When I see all of your faces, I'm glad to know that I have your support, and that we are all brothers and sisters."
"Day laborers provide important work in our economy, and deserve to have their rights enforced," said JUFJ Executive Director Jacob Feinspan. "When we read the story of Passover, we are reminded that it is our responsibility as Jews to side with the oppressed, and not with the modern-day Pharaohs of our community."
Attendees wrote letters to Pamela Banks, Director of DC's Office of Wage and Hour, asking for stronger protections for day laborers, and stronger penalties for wage theft and underpayment. Attendees also committed to taking further action in support of DC day laborers.
Cosponsors of JUFJ's eighth annual Labor Seder included: American Rights at Work, AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, AVODAH-AJWS Alumni Partnership, Bet Mishpachah, Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), DC Employment Justice Center, DC Jobs with Justice, DC Vote, Foundry United Methodist Church, Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Young Leaders, Interfaith Worker Justice of Greater Washington, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Jewish Labor Committee, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters, Moishe House DC and Moishe House Silver Spring, Tifereth Israel Congregation, Tikvat Israel Social Action Committee, UFCW Local 400 and Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
