A Shared Commitment to Justice

Each Labor Day weekend, Interfaith Worker Justice and the AFL-CIO sponsor the Labor in the Pulpits /on the Bimah /in the Minbar program, which highlights the shared goals of the faith community and the union movement for a new vision for justice in our communities.

As part of Labor in the Pulpits, union members serve as guest speakers in congregations to speak out about their faith, work and the union movement. Some AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils use this program as an opportunity to host a Faith and Labor meeting in which participants discuss important issues facing workers in their local communities and reaffirm their shared commitments to social justice.

In 2006, more than 600 congregations in 52 cities participated in the program.

• Find out more about how unions help workers and read what faith-based groups say about workers’ rights.

• Read a homily by the Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D., archbishop of Washington, D.C., during the Mass for the Blessing of Human Labor on Labor Day 2007 (PDF).

Resources New materials for Labor Day Weekend 2007 Prayer For Labor Day/Welcoming the Immigrant and Supporting Justice for Worker Labor Day Weekend Responsive Reading: Adapted from Hebrews 13 Labor Day Weekend Responsive Reading: Adapted from Psalm 112 En Español: Lectura para el Día del Trabajo (adaptación de Salmos 112) Reflection: Are You Invited to the Party? Reflection: The Big Table Dvar Torah for Ki Tavo Parshat Ki Tavo Outreach Poster

Faith-Specific Labor Day Resources

• Putting Labor into Labor Day (Catholic)
• Lutheran Resources for Worker Justice
• Pan-Methodist Resources for Worker Justice
• Presbyterian Resources for Worker Justice
• Labor on the Bimah: A Special Resource for Synagogues (Jewish)
• The Qur'an and Worker Justice (Muslim)
• Buddhist Labor Day Worship Resource (PDF, 201 KB)

Labor in the Pulpits Organizing Tools

• Organizing Guide
• Speaker Training Guide
• Media Action Kit