JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

Jewish Labor Committee: Boycott Agriprocessors

By Ami Eden · May 23, 2008

The Jewish Labor Committee is calling for a boycott of Agriprocessors, and says the recent federal raid "buttresses the conviction shared by many undocumented workers that our government is not only indifferent to worker abuse, but works in collusion with management to penalize workers who challenge it."

Here's the JLC's full statement:

Jewish Labor Committee Policy Statement: Agriprocessors

New York: May 23, 2008 As an organization committed to the defense of human rights, the Jewish Labor Committee has long condemned the abuse of workers by any employer for any reason. For this reason, the JLC has vigorously opposed the employment practices of Agriprocessors, Inc. since we first learned of them two years ago.

In reviewing the complaints of Agriprocessors' employees, the JLC learned that there is a clear pattern of employer negligence and even lawlessness. Among the most troubling practices by Agriprocessors are:

· abuse of child labor laws; · failure to pay workers the full amount of wages they have earned; · unnecessary exposure of workers to dangerous – even life-threatening – working conditions; · sexual harassment.

The JLC has also learned that Agriprocessors is actively waging a campaign of intimidation and harassment against workers who have expressed an interest in exercising their legal right to union representation.

In this atmosphere, it is clear that the recent ICE raid at Agriprocessors, though apparently legal, only buttresses the conviction shared by many undocumented workers that our government is not only indifferent to worker abuse, but works in collusion with management to penalize workers who challenge it.

While there are many differing perspectives regarding immigration reform, the American Jewish community shares a common conviction that all workers – regardless of their immigration status – must be free to exercise their rights and challenge employer abuses. Our belief is grounded in the collective memory of American Jewry of the gross exploitation of Jewish immigrants by employers who, like Agriprocessors, abused and robbed them of their right to dignity in the workplace. Judaism is clear on the topic of treating workers with dignity and respect. We understand that we must treat our workers decently and justly, ethically and legally.

For this reason we call on Agriprocessors to live up to the responsibilities of corporate citizenship, end its campaign of worker abuse, and respect the rights of its employees including their legal right to union representation. Until Agriprocessors establishes its commitment to these responsibilities, we urge consumers of kosher meat products to seek alternatives to the Rubashkin labels.

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Upset about Syria-Israel talks

By Uriel Heilman · May 23, 2008

It seems Israel's patron the United states isn't the only country that is less than enthusiastic about Israel and Syria's decision to restart peace talks. So is Syria's patron, Iran.

Unnamed sources told the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad apparently is furious with Syrian President Bashar Assad for engaging the Zionist entity in peace talks, according to this Ha'aretz report.

President Bush doesn't seem too enthusiastic either, as JTA's Ron Kampeas reports. As the New York Times points out in its lead editorial Friday, it seems Bush was taking a swipe not only at Barack Obama in his remarks last week in Israel's Knesset about appeasing terrorists, but also at his Israeli hosts:

Everybody knew President Bush was aiming at Senator Barack Obama last week when he likened those who endorse talks with "terrorists and radicals" to appeasers of the Nazis. But now we know what Mr. Bush knew then — that Israel is in indirect peace talks with Syria, a prominent member of Mr. Bush's list of shunned nations — and it seems as if the president was going for a two-for-one in his crack about appeasement.

For his part, Obama told the Jerusalem Post he backs the Israeli-Syrian peace talks.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Egyptian-mediated indirect talks between Hamas and Israel on a ceasefire collapsed Thursday. And the war in the Gaza area goes on.

2 Comments | Share This | Arab-Israeli Conflict, Iran |

It’s Lag B’Omer: Get a haircut!

By Ami Eden · May 23, 2008

[OOOPS: If you're looking for 'Obama Goes to Shul' click here.]

The L.A. Jewish Journal's VideoJew takes advantage of Lag B'Omer:

With all those Jews in Hollywood – and with Adam "The Hanukkah Song" Sandler – couldn't somebody have figured out that today would have been the perfect day for the premier of "You Don't Mess With the Zohan"?

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The Conservative movement: We ‘request’ that you think about not eating Rubashkin products

By Ami Eden · May 23, 2008

We're told that a few Conservative rabbis wanted their movement to declare a boycott of Agriprocessors. Instead, the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism issued a "request": "that consumers of kosher meat evaluate whether it is appropriate to buy and eat meat products produced by the Rubashkin's label."

Here's the full statement:

"YOU SHALL NOT ABUSE A NEEDYAND DESTITUTE LABORER" Deuteronomy 24:14

A Statement by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism And the Rabbinical Assembly Regarding Rubashkin's Meat Products

New York, NY (May 22, 2008) - In response to the continuing disturbing allegations of unacceptable worker conditions at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, Iowa, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly are united in their request that consumers of kosher meat evaluate whether it is appropriate to buy and eat meat products produced by the Rubashkin's label.

Rubashkin's produces kosher meat primarily under the Rubashkin's, Aaron and David label at the Agriprocessors facility. It is a major producer of kosher meat and poultry in the United States. The allegations about the terrible treatment of workers employed by Rubashkin's have shocked and appalled members of the Conservative Movement as well as all people of conscience. As Kashrut seeks to diminish animal suffering and offer a humane method of slaughter, it is bitterly ironic that a plant producing kosher meat be guilty of inflicting any kind of human suffering.

The Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism will immediately release an advisory to its members and constituents asking them to evaluate whether it is appropriate to consume Rubashkin products until this situation is addressed. This advisory extends not only to products bought on the retail level but to meat and poultry bought at restaurants and for such private functions as weddings and bar mitzvahs.

As the month of Sivan approaches, Jews throughout the world are mindful of the Torah's message of the power of kedushah, holiness as it applies to all aspects of our lives including the ethics of worker treatment and food production. It is hoped that Conservative synagogues, schools and summer camps engage in a study of this important topic in honor of the festival of Shavuot – beginning this year on June 8th – which commemorates the giving of the Torah.

A valuable source for such study is Hekshsher Tzedek Al Pi Din, a paper written by Rabbi Avraham Reisner. It is a companion to the Hekhsher Tzedek Policy Statement and Working Guidelines. The paper is available on the websites of the Rabbinical Assembly (www.rabbinicalassembly.org) and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (www.uscj.org).

By releasing this advisory, the Conservative movement endorses the vision and guidance of the Hekhsher Tzedek commission. Hekhsher Tzedek is an initiative of the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue that seeks to create an ethical certification process for kosher food. Through its work, Hekhsher Tzedek seeks to strengthen the bond between halakha and social justice.

The reports of unacceptable worker conditions at the Agriprocessors plant demonstrate the pressing need for the sort of ethical oversight which might be provided by Hekhsher Tzedek.

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