Day of Conscience Against Sweatshops

An older woman in a UNITE! t-shirt holds a big sign that reads: "This is a bill for your DIRTY LAUNDRY from: Workers and Community Cleaning up the Garment Industry -- to: Made in the Shade hardstyle International, 110 E. 9th St., L.A. - Wage and hour Violations - by: Department of Labor." In her hand is a soda can sealed with duck tape, likely a home made noise maker.

A garment worker carries a “Bill For Your Dirty Laundry” at a “Day of Conscience to End Sweatshops” rally and march in Los Angeles’ garment district on October 4, 1997. Organized by UNITE and its allies as part of their campaign against Guess? Jeans, the event was part of a national day of action that aimed to pressure the Presidential Task Force on Apparel Manufacturing to enforce a strong accord that would protect garment workers’ rights in Los Angeles and around the world. 

Photograph by Linda A. Lotz, CLUE records (LSC.2441), UCLA Library Special Collections Collection Information: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8g167r7/

View more of Lotz’ photos from the CLUE collection here.

Santa Monica Living Wage – Journey for Justice

A procession of workers wearing raincoats carrying pickets marching down the Santa Monica boardwalk. Some carry red signs reading "Local 11," Purple and white signs reading "Living Wages for Hotel Workers" and green signs reading "Full Family Health Coverage." A man can be seen working through the window of one of the hotels in the foreground. The pavement appears wet and the sky looks as if it has just rained.
Santa Monica Living Wage – Journey Towards Justice, 2000

In 1999, hospitality workers and their allies formed a new coalition to expand Los Angeles’ living wage ordinance to neighboring Santa Monica. Calling themselves SMART (Santa Monicans Allied for Responsible Tourism), they advanced a proposal to increase the minimum wage for the estimated 3,000 housekeepers, valet drivers, restaurant workers, and security guards who worked in the beachfront hotel district to $10.69 an hour and to require their employers to provide health insurance. As the City of Santa Monica began studying the feasibility of the proposal, opponents of the proposal led by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce began gathering signatures to place an alternative measure on the ballot in November which, while raising wages for some government contract workers, would have blocked efforts to increase the minimum wage for workers at private businesses, including those beachfront luxury hotels. They began circulating petitions and sent thousands of mailers to area residents alleging that their proposal (which came to be known as Proposition KK) would better protect workers and consumers in Santa Monica. SMART quickly mobilized in opposition to Proposition KK, “The Fake Living Wage,” holding a series of public demonstrations with religious leaders from CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) to make it clear to local voters that despite claims to the contrary, Prop. KK would not provide a true “living wage” to Santa Monica workers. Their efforts were successful—more than 78% of Santa Monica voters rejected Prop. KK — but the fight to win a living wage for workers in Santa Monica continued for years.

Pictured here is one of those demonstrations, the “Journey Towards Justice” march on April 17, 2000, in which thousands of hotel workers and their supporters marched in the rain down the Santa Monica boardwalk to St. Anne’s Church, where Father Mike Gutierrez offered blessings to the workers in their efforts to win living wages for all. 

Additional images of the Santa Monica Living Wage campaign available at the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) records, UCLA Digital Library:

https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/z16b3b1x

https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/z1gn4frj

View more photos from the Living Wage Campaign: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uclairle/albums/72177720320809410/

Let Justice Roll Down

The Working Poor: Challenge to the Religious Community

What is the responsibility of people of faith when confronted with the poverty of working people in a wealthy country? That question is posed by Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) in this 2000 video featuring the testimony of working people, faith leaders, academics, and activists. Speakers include Kent Wong, Maria Elena Durazo, Madeline Janis-Aparicio, Richard Gillett, Anthony Thigpen, and others. The film concludes with a message from Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr.: “When we allow millions and millions of people in this country to work for nothing, we deprive them of their basic dignity, we commit mayhem against them. Jesus of Nazareth said, ‘The laborer deserves his wages.’ The church cannot be the church unless we get into the marketplace and insist that work is dignity, and that every employee, every worker deserves those benefits that enables them to indeed attain an abundant life that is full of the riches spiritual as well as the riches of bread.” (En Español)

41191 {41191:MD5ZXDPY} 1 chicago-fullnote-bibliography 50 default 2433 https://memorywork.irle.ucla.edu/wp-content/plugins/zotpress/
%7B%22status%22%3A%22success%22%2C%22updateneeded%22%3Afalse%2C%22instance%22%3Afalse%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22request_last%22%3A0%2C%22request_next%22%3A0%2C%22used_cache%22%3Atrue%7D%2C%22data%22%3A%5B%7B%22key%22%3A%22MD5ZXDPY%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A41191%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Watanabe%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222000-07-22%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%201.35%3B%20padding-left%3A%201em%3B%20text-indent%3A-1em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%26gt%3BWatanabe%2C%20Teresa.%20%26%23x201C%3BA%20Union%20of%20Faith%20and%20Labor%3A%26%23xA0%3BAs%20a%20Booming%20Economy%20Leaves%20Some%20of%20Its%20Workers%20Far%20behind%2C%20an%20Interfaith%20Convocation%20Reminds%20Members%20of%20the%20Clergy%20about%20Scriptural%20Commands%20to%20Help%20the%20Needy.%26%23x201D%3B%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BLos%20Angeles%20Times%20%281996-Current%29%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%2C%20July%2022%2C%202000.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-ItemURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.proquest.com%5C%2Fhnplatimes%5C%2Fdocview%5C%2F2109770274%5C%2Fabstract%5C%2F92000F9ACB5A47D3PQ%5C%2F27%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.proquest.com%5C%2Fhnplatimes%5C%2Fdocview%5C%2F2109770274%5C%2Fabstract%5C%2F92000F9ACB5A47D3PQ%5C%2F27%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22newspaperArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22A%20Union%20of%20Faith%20and%20Labor%3A%5Cu00a0As%20a%20booming%20economy%20leaves%20some%20of%20its%20workers%20far%20behind%2C%20an%20interfaith%20convocation%20reminds%20members%20of%20the%20clergy%20about%20scriptural%20commands%20to%20help%20the%20needy%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Teresa%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Watanabe%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Jose%20Casillas%20didn%26%23039%3Bt%20want%20much%20from%20his%20full-time%20job%20as%20a%20dishwasher%20at%20the%20Fairmont%20Miramar%20Hotel%20in%20Santa%20Monica--just%20enough%20pay%20to%20keep%20him%20from%20having%20to%20ask%20for%20handouts%20to%20feed%20his%20family%20of%20eight.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%22Jul%2022%2C%202000%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22English%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%2204583035%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.proquest.com%5C%2Fhnplatimes%5C%2Fdocview%5C%2F2109770274%5C%2Fabstract%5C%2F92000F9ACB5A47D3PQ%5C%2F27%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22J9I4X6CU%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222021-05-22T03%3A07%3A17Z%22%7D%7D%5D%7D
Watanabe, Teresa. “A Union of Faith and Labor: As a Booming Economy Leaves Some of Its Workers Far behind, an Interfaith Convocation Reminds Members of the Clergy about Scriptural Commands to Help the Needy.” Los Angeles Times (1996-Current), July 22, 2000. https://www.proquest.com/hnplatimes/docview/2109770274/abstract/92000F9ACB5A47D3PQ/27.

 Hold the Line Caravan

A crowd carrying home made signs reading "Hold the Line - Don't Sell out Welfare Recipients - ACORN" and other messages. In the center of the crowd, an older priest wearing a white collar claps his hands while standing at a microphone. In the foreground are two children, one looking directly into the camera lens.
Hold the Line Caravan, 1997

As the Living Wage Coalition expanded its outreach, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors announced plans to restrict eligibility to, and cut benefits for, its General Relief (or “welfare”) program in accordance with the passage of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (better known as “welfare reform”) of 1996. Coalition members, including CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), the Community Coalition, the Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, and ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), quickly mobilized to prevent cuts in services that would impact thousands of county residents. In early 1997, they organized a community meeting in which individuals gave testimony and called on Los Angeles County administrators to adopt policies that would protect, rather than restrict, access to social services for those in need. Hundreds of people joined a “Hold the Line Caravan” rally organized by the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness in 1997 outside of the meeting to show their support. 

Pictured here is Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaking at the “Hold the Line Caravan” rally on behalf of CLUE, as photographed by CLUE’s interfaith organizer Linda A. Lotz. The photograph was featured in an exhibition called “Faith at Work,” which was shown at several congregations and community spaces in Southern California before Lotz left Los Angeles to join the staff of the American Friends Service Committee International Programs in 1999.  

Josh Meyer, “County May Slash General Relief: Welfare: Supervisors will vote next week on restricting eligibility and limiting benefits to four months for able-bodied, officials say,” Los Angeles Times May 17, 1997 https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/county-may-slash-general-relief/docview/2110418912/se-2?accountid=14512

View more photos from the Living Wage Campaign: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uclairle/albums/72177720320809410/

View more photos from the Linda A. Lotz Photo Collection: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uclairle/albums/72177720320845755/

Expanding the Living Wage at LAX

A crowd of people carrying homemade signs reading "Living Wage 4 LAX Workers" and "$7.25x hr no nos enrrianecero per vivid major." The man in the middle of the crowd wears a red union t-shirt and lifts his sign over his head.
Expanding the Living Wage at LAX, 1997

As written, the Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance only applied to large companies with contracts with the Los Angeles city government, exempting some 2000-3000 low-wage workers at the Los Angeles INternational Airport (LAX), including baggage handlers, wheelchair runners, security officers, and janitorial staff. Their exclusion from the ordinance was based on a legal technicality: while the airlines at LAX maintained contracts with the City of Los Angeles in the form of leases, thanks to a change in city policies, most services at the airport were provided by companies subcontracted by the airlines, which meant that the Living Wage Ordinance did not apply to them. The change in employment relations at LAX meant that jobs once filled by unionized workers employed directly by the airlines became low-wage subcontracted ones, with LAX workers paid wages of as little as $5.15 per hour and with no sick days, holidays, or health benefits. Mayor Richard Riordan, who had initiated the changes that enabled the subcontracting schemes at the airport, made clear his intentions to prevent the ordinance’s expansion at LAX. 

SEIU Local 399, representing building trades workers in Los Angeles, had been working to unionize the subcontracted LAX workers for several years before the Living Wage campaign began. When it became clear that airport subcontractors would not abide by the new standards, Local 399 worked with other members of the Living Wage Coalition to organize massive demonstrations at the airport, including this one in October 1997. After months of pressure, the Los Angeles’ Bureau of Contract Administration ruled that the ordinance did apply to the airlines and their subcontractors, but the airlines still refused to comply. Just a few days later, 450 workers at LAX announced their intention to unionize with Local 399.   

JIM NEWTON, “Mayor Trying to Keep LAX Exempt From New Pay Law,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 2, 1997 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-02-mn-38322-story.html 

JIM NEWTON, “Agency Says ‘Living Wage’ Law Covers Airport Guards, Janitors; Labor: Ruling is a loss for Riordan, who seeks only voluntary compliance by airlines. Carriers vow to appeal.” Los Angeles Times, June 11, 1998.  https://www.proquest.com/latimes/docview/421279834/abstract/D912AFE4172245AEPQ/211

JIM NEWTON, “LAX Security Staff Begins Union Drive; Airport: Workers seek benefits of city’s ‘living wage’ law. They also say employers have threatened retaliation.” Los Angeles Times June 27, 1998. https://www.proquest.com/latimes/docview/421305299/abstract/8DC00FDF184D44F6PQ/1?sourcetype=Newspapers 

View more photos from the Living Wage Campaign: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uclairle/albums/72177720320809410/ 

View more photos from the Linda A. Lotz Photo Collection: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uclairle/albums/72177720320845755/