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"Workers' Rights Are Human Rights"
Steve Bader of the United Electrical Workers Speaks at Forum September 9 at 9:45 am
Having just celebrated Labor Day in the United States it is appropriate to reflect on John Woolman's "A Plea for the Poor." Woolman, one of the most revered and inspirational leaders in American Quaker history, asked readers to reflect on the injustice of dehumanizing work caused by the desires and demands of some to have more than was their right or need. It is certain that Brother Woolman would have been most interested to participate in Chapel Hill Friends Meeting's upcoming September 9 forum to be presented by Steve Bader.
Workers Rights Are Human Rights - An International Call For NC To Respect Public Workers' Rights To Collectively Bargain
The United Electrical Workers (UE) Local 150's is in a campaign to organize municipal workers across North Carolina, from Charlotte to Greenville and from Chapel Hill to Fayetteville. Chapel Hill's transit and other town workers joined UE Local 150 in 2005 and have taken part in "meet and confer" (non-binding collective bargaining) with town managers. In part, UE's efforts have sought to address unbearably long hours for sanitation workers, disrespect and racism in the workplace, understaffing and forced work on holidays. An important aspect of UE 150's campaign is the support and solidarity workers received from communities. This has included student volunteers and community residents calling declaring support in workers' demands for justice.
A key roadblock to that justice has been General Statute (GS) 95-98, the North Carolina law prohibiting collective bargaining for public workers. The union has responded by both organizing workers statewide and launching the International Worker Justice Campaign (IWJC). This is the union's official offensive to win collective bargaining rights for public sector workers. The North Carolina State NAACP has come out in full support of the repeal of GS 95-98 as has the newly formed Faith, Labor, and Community Alliance. This is a south-wide organization of churches and religious leaders that support workers' rights.
The UE has appealed to four international bodies under the rubric of labor standards that are widely recognized and established internationally under human rights law. The International Commission for Labor Rights (ICLR), a network of jurists experienced in international law, published a report in 2006 documenting North Carolina's violations of international labor standards in denying public sector workers collective bargaining rights. UE has also made a formal complaint about North Carolina's denial of collective bargaining rights to the International Labor Organization (ILO), a body of the United Nations. The ILO's decision is still pending.
In October 2005, Mexican unions, working with the UE, filed a formal complaint under NAFTA's side labor agreement, NAALC, charging North Carolina and the U.S. of violating labor standards established under the NAALC by denying collective bargaining. In early January the UE appealed to the Organization of American States' (OAS) Inter-American Commission for Human Rights for a hearing to determine whether North Carolina's denial of collective bargaining violates of OAS labor standards.
Adapted from an article by Ashaki Binta, coordinator of the UE International Worker Justice Campaign and a long-time leader of Black Workers for Justice.
Come to our forum to hear Steve call for our witness in support of these workers. It is our responsibility and our Quaker tradition.
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