Worker Rights Board (WRB) Hearing investigates unemployment impact and solutions, Dallas, TX

Posted on Sep 21, 2010 - 04:03 PM

WORKER RIGHTS BOARD (WRB) HEARING INVESTIGATES UNEMPLOYMENT IMPACT AND SOLUTIONS – FINDS REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHOLE COMMUNITY ... By Dr. Kevin Bolton Charles Minister

With the unemployment rate at 9.6%, the Worker Rights Board in Dallas held a second annual Labor Day hearing that was as much about responding to the jobs crisis as it was about improving working conditions for laborers.  The hearing explored how unemployment and labor issues are a community wide issue that affects everyone.  The co-convener of the Worker Rights Board, Rev. Dr. Joerg Rieger, identified the objectives of the hearing, saying “We want to know what is actually happening [to unemployed individuals]”, but we also want to know “what is this doing to the community”, and what are some solutions that we can be part of.  After hearing testimony, it became clear that the economic situation of for the unemployed, laborers, and the whole community is under a lot of pressure, but it could get much worse for everyone if alternative options are not enacted soon.

The hearings on September 4th, held in the courtroom of the honorable judge Luis Sepulveda, were attended by leaders from religion, labor, and community organizations around Dallas, along with concerned citizens.  The Worker Rights Board heard testimony from three individuals connected with labor and issues of unemployment: Mickey Morris who is the president of the Texas Letter Carriers, Gene Lantz who is the head of Jobs with Justice in Dallas, and Perry Forshee who is the head of the Fair Budget Campaign.

The testimony made clear that unemployment is not just a problem for those without jobs, but threatens the working conditions for those who still have jobs and erodes the quality of life in the community at large.  Morris testified that the plan to cut between 600 and 700 jobs from the postal service in Dallas County will not just hurt letter carries, but will “bring down wages everywhere and affect community livelihood” because more kids will not be able to go to college and more families won’t be able to put dinner on the table.  Lantz emphasized that the situations of those with jobs is closely tied with the situation of those who are unemployed or underemployed, because those with jobs “can’t have a better working environment when there are many people unemployed or [underemployed].”  Forshee argued that cutting jobs and services to make up the Dallas budget shortfall this year will make the community undesirable for new companies that could create jobs and will putting our youth under increased pressure that will reduce the long term quality of life in Dallas.  Forshee said that in the budget hearings “citizens are saying they wouldn’t mind paying a little more to restore our city.”

While the testimony painted the economic situation in stark terms, the witnesses were each clear that there are solutions and there is hope if the community can organize together to enact the solutions.  The witnesses and the conveners emphasize the important role religious communities can play in educating the community about economic injustice and collaborating with labor to make the community’s voices hear.  In response to the testimony, the Worker Rights Board adopted a resolution calling on the state and federal government to acknowledge the current unemployment situation as a crisis and act accordingly by passing the Local Jobs for America Act currently before congress and by creating federal programs like the proven WPA to put the unemployed back to work at a fair wage, improve the working conditions of those with jobs, and secure the livelihood of our communities.

Adrian Magallanes talks about lack of safety training, inadequate equipment, and no water on the work site. 

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