Southern Tier Labor-Religion Coalition

Southern Tier

Upcoming
The Coalition has been inactive in 2006. Contact Kathy Dubel for news of the FAST, however.

Monday, March 5 through Wednesday, March 7, 2007
A 40-hour FAST for Justice and Goodness. Check back here for news of issues or events planned during the 40-hour period. Kathy Dubel can be reached at 607/ 734-9784, ext. 135 or kdubel@dor.org.

To help reactivate the organization, please call the statewide Labor-Religion Coalition at 518/ 213-6000, ext, 6294.

Questions?

Although the STLRC no longer has a part-time coordinator as of April 1, 2004, the work will continue with volunteer support. Contact Co-chair Kathy Dubel at 607/ 734-9784, ext. 135. Best wishes to Cindy Hale, currently a student at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.

The Southern Tier Labor-Religion Coalition is an alliance of unions and faith communities across the Southern Tier of New York State working together to promote the dignity of workers and advance the common good. Rooted in religious values, the coalition seeks to educate and mobilize the community to advocate for social and economic justice for working people, especially the poorest.

News

The Coalition's Annual Solidarity Supper featured Jon Greenbaum of Rochester Metro Justice in September 2005.

Cindy Hale coordinated a successful Faithful Citizenship voter registration and voter education project during the summer of 2004. Visit the Interfaith Worker Justice (formerly the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice) web site for information about this project.

The Coalition hosted its third annual Solidarity Supper on September 11, 2004. Speakers included Tim Joseph, chairman of the Tompkins County Legislature and Mike Wandell of the Chemung County AFL-CIO Labor Assembly.

Archives

The Solidarity Supper at Saint Mary's Parish Center in Elmira on September 6, 2003, was an inspiring event. Over 100 participants heard Kate Bronfenbrenner, Director of Labor Education Research at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (Cornell University), speak about "Worker Rights are Human Rights" and Mike Wandell, President, United Auto Workers Local 1337 (Elmira) deliver an illustrated talk titled "Border Pilgrimage: Solidarity with Mexican Auto Workers." Music was by the the Bob Melnyk Band!

Elmira City Council members voted to table a proposed living wage ordinance following a public hearing on Monday, April 7, 2003. The City Council Chamber was standing-room-only with supporters and opponents. According to Cindy Hale of the Southern Tier Labor-Religion Coalition, "The living wage movement is like a determined spring of water--you can pave over it, but it will not be stifled."

The Coalition's Second Annual Solidarity Supper on September 8, 2002, featured speakers, music and food. Keynoter, Trudi Renwick, Senior Economist, Fiscal Policy Institute, Albany spoke on the topic, "Pulling Apart: Poverty, Income Inequality and Injustice in New York State."

Coalition members facilitated two workshops on the living wage during the conference on May 11, 2002, called "The Many Faces of Poverty Today in Steuben and Neighboring Counties" at Saint Mary's Parish in Bath, NY.

Efforts related to the living wage included discussion with supportive city council members about a proposed ordinance. In 2002 the power base of low-wage earners grew. For example, postcards addressed to the Coalition indicating support for the ordinance have been distributed at food pantries and a flyer was distributed to Council of Churches members. Posters have also invited workers who are not making it on their wages to contact the Coalition.

In late 2001, concerned citizens, clergy, human service agency staff and low-wage earners participated in two successful public conversations regarding the need for a living wage in the city of Elmira.

Cindy Hale met with the Council of Churches in March 2002, to speak about Coalition membership and the Campaign for a Living Wage in Elmira. A gathering to invite participation from individual congregations is being planned.

During the 2002 Fast, one class of children participated by giving up their snacks. The snacks cost the school 25 cents each. In this way, the children raised about $40 which was donated to the Coalition and to a community kitchen. The statewide fast flyer was distributed with the Coalition newsletter. It was posted in several congregations and was included in one church bulletin.

Two hundred people gathered at Saint Mary's Church in Elmira on September 8, 2001, for the first annual Solidarity Supper with a keynote address by Charles Kernaghan, executive director of the National Labor Committee.

Sweatfree Schools work in the Catholic Diocese is being modeled after a campaign in Newark, NJ to make sure that parochial school uniforms are not made in sweatshops.