Jewish Labor Committee

Image from Franz Heinrich Corinth on his Sick Bed, by Lovis Corinth, 1888.

The rights of workers have long been a bedrock social justice concern and a priority of American Jews. With strong Jewish leadership, major achievements such as the minimum wage, the forty hour work week, the abolition of child labor, and family and medical leave have enhanced the quality of life for millions over successive generations.

This commitment is inspired by Jewish tradition that speaks strongly to valuing workers' dignity as well as maintaining healthy families. We are taught in the Torah, "You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow Israelite or a stranger in one of the communities of your land. You must pay out the wages due on the same day, before the sun sets, for the worker is needy and urgently depends on it; else a cry to the Eternal will be issued against you and you will incur guilt." (Deut. 24:14-15).

The landmark 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act recognized the familial needs that tug at every worker. But neither this nor any other federal law requires employers to continue to pay workers during their family or medical leave. By supporting paid sick leave we hope to ensure that no one must choose between their health or the health of a family member and their financial security.

The United States lags far behind the rest of the world when it comes to paid sick leave, with only four states, 19 cities, and one county currently requiring it. Meanwhile, 163 nations already guarantee paid sick leave, including Canada, Israel, and nearly every country in Europe. Of the European countries that guarantee paid sick leave, all guarantee more than 11 days.

Our most recent issue paper, Paid Sick Leave: A National Priority, is online - for a printable copy, just click here.

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 12:00 PM | Permalink

Now in its fourth year, #GivingTuesday has grown into a global giving event on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. On December 1st, the Jewish Labor Committee is joining this movement. Now it's your turn. Black Friday and Cyber Monday were the two best days to get a good deal. Now we can add a third day. Get the best deal of all this year through helping the next Jewish generation.

Years ago, many American Jews were active in the organized labor movement. Today this is no longer the case -- many young Jews are not as knowledgeable and sympathetic to workers' issues. We at the JLC have initiated a program to help turn this around.

You're invited to join the Jewish Labor Committee this #GivingTuesday and help our campus organizing initiative on labor rights and economic inequality through "From History to Action." From History to Action is our educational program engaging Jewish college students in exploring the contribution of American Jews to the labor movement, and the roots of Jewish social justice, empowering them to get involved with local labor activism. From History to Action is not only fostering a deeper sense of the many links between Jewish identity and social justice in individuals, but also the larger community. From History to Action consists of a series of programs we run with the help of student fellows.

We are currently operating on the campuses of Tufts, Brandeis, and Harvard, and with your help we can expand From History to Action to campuses nationwide. Your donation of $18 ($36, $72, $90...) can help these students become great activists for economic justice. So join us and invest in the future of economic justice and tomorrow's Jewish labor activists.

To donate click here http://tinyurl.com/GivingTuesdayJLC

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 01:45 PM | Permalink

November 16, 2015 -- New York, NY: Jewish Labor Committee President Stuart Appelbaum released the following statement moments ago:

The Jewish Labor Committee strongly condemns the recent massacres in Beirut and Paris carried out by ISIS. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and loved ones and to the people of Lebanon and France.

Clearly, these atrocities demand increased and stronger steps by a coalition of countries, with the United States continuing its leading role, to defeat this evil force. That has already begun, with the retaliatory air strikes that are being conducted.

This tragic situation, however, should not become an excuse for turning our backs on the refugees fleeing war and the atrocities perpetrated by ISIS in areas they conquer. We especially reject as abhorrent statements that refugees should be accepted on the basis of their religion, in particular, that only Christian refugees should be accepted. As an organization founded to oppose the rise of Nazism in the early 1930s, we find restrictions on who is aided -- and who isn't -- based on religion repugnant. All countries accepting refugees, including the United States, just have to ensure that the screening process for allowing refugees to come into their country is rigorous enough to block any potential terrorists attempting to cynically take advantage of this act of humanity.

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 07:47 PM | Permalink

Students at Oñate High School of the Las Cruces Public School district; photo source NASA.

November 15, 2015 - "A strong, educated population is a vital national interest. An educated public can make wise decisions on issues of national concern, contribute their skills to the economy, and invent the goods and services of the future that can help strengthen our economy, including lessening income inequality."

Our most recent issue paper, Public Education: National Values and National Need, is online - for a printable copy, just click here.

Posted by Arieh Lebowitz at 12:55 PM | Permalink