Clergy, Grocery Workers Congregate for Interfaith Services

MEDIA ADVISORY for Friday, April 9

Clergy, Grocery Workers Congregate for Interfaith Services

Where: Park, 14th and Broadway, Oakland


When: Friday, April 9 - 1 pm


Who: Rev. Dale Edmondson, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church of


Oakland


Rev. Michael Yoshii, Pastor, Buena Vista United Methodist Church,


Alameda


Rev. Israel Alvaran, United Methodist Church, Graduate Theological


Union


[April 7]--Local clergy will hold interfaith services on Friday, April 9 for grocery workers who face contract negotiations in Northern California this fall. In recognition of the particular hardships grocery workers in northern California could face this year, clergy of diverse faiths will join community leaders and workers to support their struggle to save health care. This service is one of eight being held in counties throughout the Bay Area.


"These are dark times when the burden of rising health care costs is passed on to working families who can little afford it," said Rev. Carol Been, clergy organizer for the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. "It is appropriate that during Passover and Holy Week we remember that every generation has those who oppress and every generation has God working to set us free."


"There are 300,000 grocery workers across the country who are fighting for healthcare for their families this year," said Judy Goff, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Central Labor Council of Alameda County, AFL-CIO. "Alameda County labor honors their struggle and their faith, and pledges our support to economic justice for workers."


The services being held on Friday mark the continuation of a partnership between the interfaith community and grocery workers. In January, religious leaders led a pilgrimage to Steve Burd's home to appeal to his faith to return to the bargaining table during the southern California grocery strike.