Workers' rights campaign from Unitarian Universalists

The Unitarian Universalist denomination is starting an interesting social justice campaign for workers' rights. I am posting an announcement from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. -M. Mueller

With the launch of our Choose Compassionate Consumption campaign this fall, UUSC supporters joined together to form a powerful block of consumer advocates.

In October, we targeted Hershey and the use of child labor in chocolate production, sending more than 1,100 letters to Hershey, along with samples of a competitor’s fair-trade chocolate. In November and December, UUSC supporters generated approximately $15,000 in sales for the Southern Agricultural Alternatives Cooperative, a socially responsible pecan-processing cooperative that creates jobs in southwest Georgia.

Now let’s use our power to make a positive difference in the lives of restaurant workers, by choosing where to eat based on how restaurants treat their employees!

The U.S. restaurant industry employs over 10 million workers nationwide and is one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy. But sadly, the restaurant industry also has a very high rate of workers’-rights violations.  

That’s why the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United), a UUSC partner organization, has released the ROC National Diners’ Guide 2012: A Consumer Guide on the Working Conditions of American Restaurants. The guide rates restaurants throughout the country based on how they treat their workers, listing responsible restaurants where you can eat knowing that your server can afford to pay the rent and your cook isn’t working while sick.

Download the restaurant guide today --— and use it to choose compassionate consumption when you dine out!

Thanks,
Kara Smith
Associate for Grassroots Mobilization

Michelle Mueller, reflections on Unitarian Universalist ministry

I felt disappointed that I can't attend more interfaith events because of my work schedule, like the upcoming Interfaith Understanding Conference in Rochester, NY https://interfaith2010.naz.edu/. I brainstormed what kinds of interfaith engagement I can do from home. I thought about what I can do by educating at Cherry Hill Seminary and then the work I do at the Unitarian Universalist church.

Right now our middle school group uses Neighboring Faiths, a UU curriculum that helps young people learn about religious traditions and even visit other worship sites. I am responsible for setting up the site visits for this class. So far the group has been to a Greek Orthodox church, and I am planning more trips. The Greek Orthodox youth leader said they would be interested in visiting out church next. I can set up more site visits and get to know other local religious leaders in the process.

This does not sound bad after all, and I will keep the Covenant posted on our site visits.