In addition to building alliances between labor and community groups, Jobs with Justice built a new structure - Workers’ Rights Boards - to combat the lack of an adequate legal framework to support worker and economic justice issues . With Boards in 20 cities we now have a proven track record that these locally based institutions made up of community leaders, religious leaders, academics, elected officials, and other prominent members of the community, can be effective vehicles to address workers’ and community concerns.

Although the Boards have no legal authority, we have learned that the local structure of the Boards can produce real results. Where the withered legal framework is slow to move the Boards can spur important action. The St. Louis Workers Rights Board has taken steps to protect workers threatened with firing for organizing, caregivers dismissed for reporting patient abuse, and immigrant workers denied pay for hours work simply because the employer thought they could get away with it.

Community leaders who agree to serve on a WRB review worker complaints and often conduct public hearings - giving employers the chance to participate - and then seek follow-up meetings with management to report their findings and, if possible, resolve the dispute. In addition to these types of cases, JWJ WRB’s have intervened most frequently in organizing situations where workers’ rights violations are blatant and serious. WRB proceedings are part of a one-two counterpunch that includes direct action by labor, community and faith-based activists.

Co-Chairs:

• Joan Suarez, Missouri Immigrant & Refugee Advocates

• The Rev. Dr. Martin Rafanan, Gateway 180

Steering Committee Members:

• Joan Beuckman, KMOX, KTRS, Retired
• Senator Joan Bray, Missouri Senate
• Sherman George, St. Louis Fire Chief, Retired
• Percy Green, Civil Rights Leader, ACTION Reunion
• Jerry Hochsztein, Jews United for Justice
• Denise Lieberman, Stetin Center for Law and Social Change
• Prof. Allan MacNeill, Webster University
• Prof Mike Mancini, Saint Louis University
• The Rev. James Morris, Lane Tabernalce CME
• Angie O’Gorman, Interfaith Legal Services for Immigrants
• Rudy Pulido, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Southwest Baptist Church, Retired
• Jerry Tucker, Healthcare Justice Education Fund
• Bill Ramsey, Human Rights Action Service
• Prof Mark Rank, Washington University
• Prof Gerda Ray, UMSL, History Dept
•  

General Members

Prof. Jim Allen, Saint Louis University

Laura Barrett, Gamaliel Foundation

John Bowman, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

The Rev. Charles Brown, Mt Airy MB Church

The Honorable William Clay, US Congress, Former

Maida Coleman,former MO Senate

Mo Costello, MoKaBe’s Coffehouse

Fr. Richard Creason, Catholic Action Network

Anna Crosslin, International Institute

The Rev Teresa Danieley, St. John’s Episcopal Church

Senator Rita Days, Missouri Senate

Hedy Epstein

Jim Faul, Attorney

Rabbi Randy Fleisher, Central Reform Congregation

The Rev. Robert Franklin, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition

Rabbi Andrea Goldstein, Shaare Emeth

Seifu Gudeta, Interfaith Legal Services for Immigrants

Reena Hajat, Diversity Awareness Partnership

Imam Muhammad Hasic, Islamic Community Center

Bernie Hayes, Independent Television Service

Professor Dan Hellinger, Webster University, HISPL

Dr. Deborah Henry, St Louis Community College

Rich Howard-Willms, Plowsharing Crafts

The Rev. Dr. Sammie Jones, Mt. Zion MB Church

Jerry King RJK, Inc.

Glen Koenen, Circle of Concern

Ora Lee Malone, Civil Rights Activist

The Rev. Ben Martin, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

Larry Mass, Attorney  

Rep. Margo McNeil

Javier Mendoza, Musician

Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford, MO House of Representatives

Friar Ed Mundwiller, St. Anthony of Padua

Virginia Nesmith, National Farm Worker Ministry

The Rev. Tommie Pierson, Greater St. Mark Family Church

Joe Pollack, St Louis Newspaper Guild

William Quick, Attorney

Robert Reinhold, Attorney

The Rev. B.T. Rice, New Horizon 7th Day Christian Church

The Rev. Larry Rice, New Life Evangelistic Center

Jamala Rogers, Organization for Black Struggle

Professor Rebecca Rogers, UMSL

Fr. Jack Schuler, St Ferdinand

Dr. John Slosar, Saint Louis University

Sr. Carla Mae Streeter, Aquinas Institute

Abbe Sudvarg, MD  

Rabbi Susan Talve, Central Reform Congregation

Roz Sherman Voellinger, Workers Inst. For Safety & Health

Khatib Waheed, Center for the Study of Social Policy

The Rev. Emery Washington, Episcopal Church

Nikki Weinstein, FOCUS St. Louis

The Rev. Anthony Witherspoon, Washington Metropolitan, AME