Clergy, Community (LITTLE ROCK) Join Together to Support Sanitation Workers

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/clergy-community-join-together-support/story.aspx?guid={BF9CDF1E-7721-411D-94DD-C7F739549B84}&dist=hppr

Last update: 4:59 p.m. EDT July 24, 2008
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 24, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Clergy and union representatives held a joint rally today in support of Little Rock sanitation workers, clergy and community members who have called for the reinstatement of a terminated union activist at Waste Management.

Last month, 52 workers at Waste Management in Little Rock filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board to be represented by Teamsters Local 878. Waste Management has since held meetings with workers to discuss union activity and fired the original member of the organizing committee under questionable circumstances.

The rally, co-sponsored by the Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice and Teamsters Local 878, was held in front of Waste Management's property in Little Rock. The group called for the company to allow clergy into company-held meetings where union activity is discussed to act as observers.

Rev. Steve Copley of the Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice called on Waste Management to reinstate Stacey Stevenson, a worker who was active in the union campaign and was fired under questionable circumstances.

"Workers should feel free to organize without fear of intimidation and termination. We are calling on Waste Management to do what's right and reinstate Stacey Stevenson," Copley said.

Members of the Interfaith Worker Justice Committee's national board also announced a nationwide effort calling on clergy and the community to support an end to Waste Management's position of fighting workers' rights to seek union representation.

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