Jewish Labor Committee

When Australia voted in UNESCO against elevating Palestine to quasi-statehood, alarms were raised that it would undo Australia's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. In fact, Australia has resisted several opportunities over the past year to abstain or to vote in favor on the Unilateral Declaration of a Palestinian State in order to gain the votes of the Arab and Muslim blocs of nations in the world body. Despite these qualms raised by some, Australia was just elected to serve as a non-permanent member on the United Nations Security Council for 2013 and 2014.

Cabinet Secretary Mark Dreyfus outlines Prime Minister Julia Gillard's and the Labour Government's firm support for Israel in the year's prior to the election for the United Nations Security Council. In his remarks, Dreyfus stated that "the Government of Australia supports the State of Israel, and that we do so one hundred percent .... Australia is not merely an ally of Israel. Australia is a friend." Reiterating the government's support for a two-state solution, Dreyfus quoted the Labour Prime Minister remarks: "... the only durable basis for resolution of this conflict is negotiation." Dreyfus concludes by noting that "this is a time when Israel, more than ever, needs its friends to rally around it to ensure its security. This is a time when the region truly needs a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians."

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 10:15 AM | Permalink

(October 11, 2012) Cambridge, MA - New England Jewish Labor Committee activists were at the rally and march at the Le Meridien Cambridge on October 11th where workers launched a boycott of their own hotel. Over 200 community and hotel and food service workers joined Le Meridien Cambridge workers on the picket line to demand justice from the hotel's owner and operator, private equity hotelier, HEI Hospitality.

HEI is an equity acquisition company that bought Le Meridien three years ago and has been making profits for its investors by lowering labor costs. Health benefits contributions from employees have doubled recently and there have been little in wage increases. Cuts in staff have resulted in increased and unreasonable work loads. Starwood owns the Le Meridien brand name and franchises to HEI, which owns the Cambridge Hotel. About eight months ago, 70 percent of the workers signed a petition asking for a fair process in deciding on collective representation. Management refused to even take the petition. Though the workers at Le Méridien are not unionized, they have been receiving assistance in organizing protests from UNITE HERE Local 26, which represents hospitality workers throughout Massachusetts, and a range of community-based organizations. After the picket, protesters took to the streets, in a sizeable march towards Cambridge City Hall. It's been reported that Harvard, Yale, and Brown have all decided to not do any additional investments in HEI.

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 10:54 PM | Permalink

l-r: Laura Wentz, Executive Vice President of CLUW Philadelphia; Jeff Hornstein, Chair, Philadelphia Jewish Labor Commitee; Liz McElroy, Secretary General, Philadelphia AFL-CIO; PA State Senator Daylin Leach. (Anne Gemmel, Political Director of SEIU Local 32 BJ, not in photo, was also part of this panel.) Photo courtesy Philadelphia JLC (PJLC)

(October 4, 2012) Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia Jewish Labor Committee convened the third installment of its Jewish Labor Series at Liberties Bar in Northern Liberties, a neighborhood in Philadelphia.

Jeff Hornstein chaired the panel discussion that included PA State Senator Daylin Leach; Laura Wentz, Executive Vice President of the Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women; Political Director of SEIU Local 32 BJ, Anne Gemmel; and Secretary-Treasurer of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Elizabeth McElroy. The diverse audience (with people younger and older, Jews and non Jews, women and men) heard four perspectives on Pennsylvania Voter ID laws which by design limit certain U.S. citizens' right to vote.

To receive information about future activities of the PJLC, contact them here.

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 10:27 PM | Permalink