Union chief retreats from Israel advert [The Australian, April 6, 2008]: “The head of the Maritime Union of Australia has distanced himself and his union from an allegedly anti-Semitic advertisement linking Israel's statehood to `racism and ethnic cleansing', after his Sydney branch endorsed the ad.
Paddy Crumlin, the MUA's national secretary, said the advertisement published in The Australian last month had used `an appalling choice of words'.

For more than two years, Israelis living in Sderot and other towns near Gaza have been the target of choice for Hamas terrorists. Launching its arsenal of Qassam rockets from residential neighborhoods and even schoolyards, they have as much as dared Israel to fight back. Now it has.

Predictably, much of the world is expressing its dismay — and those of us who call ourselves progressives are fuming that much of it is coming from our counterparts on the left overseas. However, it’s not enough for us to be indignant. Absent the involvement of the American labor movement, any effort to build worldwide support on the left for the Jewish state will be extraordinary difficult.

JLC President Stuart Appelbaum met with Israeli President Shimon Peres Feb. 20. Appelbaum was in Jerusalem as part of the Israel Leadership Mission of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. In his meeting with Appelbaum and other leaders, Peres called for forging closer ties between Palestinians and Israeli Jews.

NEW YORK (JTA) -- As is the custom, millions of families will soon flock to beaches and backyard barbeques to celebrate Labor Day. Unfortunately, the reason for the holiday, recognizing the value of the labor movement, is too often forgotten. Of course, every family has reason to salute the contributions unions have made to our country. After all, it was organized labor that introduced the idea of the weekend and the 8-hour day. However, this year there's one group of Americans who have special reason to be thankful for organized labor -- those of us in the Jewish community.

At a time when many in business, the media and other institutions are too timid to challenge the rising tide of anti-Semitism abroad, America’s labor leaders did something extraordinary this summer. In a stunning show of solidarity with Israel, the presidents of virtually every major U.S. union signed on a declaration denouncing anti-Israel boycotts and divestment campaigns like the ones which have been endorsed by several British unons. CONTINUED

BOSTON (Jewish Advocate) -- Many of us remember hearing stories of our parents, grandparents or great-grandparents moving to America and struggling to “make it” in the new country. Some may have been small business owners while others were rank and file workers, but common to all was the struggle to sustain themselves and their families. Many suffered in sweatshops and developed the mutual support system called the U.S. trade union movement.
The imperative of supporting one another in economic struggles was not new to them. One of our foremost scholars, the Rambam, states that the highest level of charity is “entering into a partnership with one in need, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand until he need no longer be dependent upon others.”
Remembering their own struggle, our parents and grandparents passed on to us the commitment to help others in need. That is what unions are all about – supporting the basic right of individuals to a fair salary, benefits, workers safety, and the ability to raise him/herself to a better life. This is why so many in the Jewish community are supporting the ... READ IT ALL HERE: Download file

With the large number of local, regional and international conflicts, with the diverse range of oppressive regimes around the world about which there is almost universal silence, we have to question the motives of these resolutions that single out one country in one conflict.

We note with increasing concern that virtually all of these resolutions focus solely on objections to actions or policies of the Israeli government, and never on actions or policies of Palestinian or other Arab governments, parties or movements. We notice with increasing concern that characterization of the Palestinians as victims and Israel as victimizer is a staple of such resolutions. That there are victims and victimizers on all sides, and that many if not most of the victims of violence and repression on all sides are civilians, are essential items often not mentioned in these resolutions.

For 71 years, the JLC has served as the bridge linking the Jewish community and organized labor in a shared commitment to economic and social justice. You can be a part of this historic tradition of working together to advance the cause of the Jewish people and to help create a better future for all.

You can join the outreach to the millions of families who are union members and all of the allied organizations and groups which support the labor movement.

If you share our concerns for human rights, respect for all in our increasingly diverse world, and Israel, you belong in the JLC. Individual dues are only $40 a year. By joining the JLC, you will be part of a progressive, community-oriented organization that will make your voice heard on behalf of justice and human rights.

E-mail us here JLCExec@aol.com with your name and address; we'll send you a membership form. Join the Jewish Labor Committee as we embark on a new century of struggle and service for the Jewish people.

The initiative specifies that employers pay workers no less than $6.75 starting Jan. 1, 2007. It also mandates that the minimum wage be annually adjusted for inflation, based on the percentage increase in the U.S. Department of Labor's consumer price index over a one-year span. Businesses with yearly gross revenue less than $500,000 would be exempt from these requirements. Their employees would keep the federal government's minimum wage.

Last December, the California-Western Region of the Jewish Labor Committee joined members of the Communication Workers of America, California Nurses Association, members of USW Locals 675, 2801 and others rallying in Long Beach, CA during a nationwide day of support for Goodyear Tire and Rubber workers. On October 5th, responding to unacceptable contract offers Goodyear management, over 14,000 USW members went out on strike for job security and the guarantee of healthcare in their retirement. 86 days later, the union members at Goodyear ratified a new three-year contract. All striking Steelworkers returned to work January 2, 2007. [Photo by Cookie Lommel]

]]> http://www.jewishlaborcommittee.org/2006/01/recent_activities_californiawe_1.html http://www.jewishlaborcommittee.org/2006/01/recent_activities_californiawe_1.html News Sun, 01 Jan 2006 06:09:15 -0500 Chicago JLC has been working with AFSCME Council 31 campaign, now over two years old, to organize 8,000 workers - including 2,000 nurses - at Resurrection Health Care, the second largest hospital system in the Chicago area. At a press conference in November, more than two dozen Resurrection nurses cited inadequate staffing levels, lax infection controls, deteriorating and outdated equipment and insufficient supplies as impediments to their ability to care for patients safely.

Chicago JLC reaches out to community synagogues and temples to hold Labor on the Bimah programs every year. Local JLC members have been active in numerous congregational and other Jewish community events; we are among the sponsors of the annual Walk for Israel / Israel Solidarity Day. Chicago JLC President Mike Perry is the Chair of the Domestic Affairs Commission of the local Jewish Community Relations Council.