October 2002 - Reverend Michael Vosler, Workers Rights Board Co-Chair, at a rally with state mental health care workers, members of AFSCME.
Workers Rights Board
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.
Board Members
- Laura Barrett, Center for Community Change
- John Bowman, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
- William Clay, US Congress, Former
- Maida Coleman, MO Senate
- Fr. Richard Creason, Pastor Catholic Action Network
- Rita Days, MO Senate
- Hedy Epstein
- Myrna and Leo Fichtenbaum
- Dorothy Gilles, Farm Labor Organizing Cmtee
- Percy Green, Percy Green & Assoc.
- Joseph Heathcott, SLU, American Studies
- Dan Hellinger, Webster University, HISPL
- Deborah Henry, UMSL
- Rev. Sammie Jones
- Mike Linderer, Gold Quill Assoc.
- Ora Lee Malone, Civil Rights Activist
- Ben Martin, Presbetery of Giddings-Lovejoy
- Larry Mass, Atty.
- Mary Ann McGivern, Loretto Community
- Virginia Nesmith, Natl Farm Wker Ministry
- Bill Ramsey, Human Rights Action Servie
- Gerda Ray, UMSL, History Dept
- Robert Reinhold, Atty
- Rev. B. T. Rice, New Horizon 7th Day Christian Churc
- Rev. Larry Rice, New Life Evangelistic Center
- Jamala Rogers, Organization for Black Struggle
- Art Sandler, Webster University, Philosophy
- Rev. Ted Schroeder, Immanual Lutheran Church
- Roz Sherman Voellinger, UMSL Labor Education
- Kathy Skow
- John Slosar, SLU School of Social Service
- Sol Stetin, Ret. Pres, TWU
- Joan Suarez, UNITE
- Susan Talve, Central Reform Congregation
- Jerry Tucker, Healthcare Justice Education Fund
- Rev. Michael Vosler, Epiphany United Church of Christ
- Niki Weinstein, Family Resource Center
- Harriet Woods, Women's Political Caucus