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TARGET Injustice
Since a number of our church members are working on the TARGET Injustice campaign, I thought I would devote a bit of space in this month's newsletter to the campaign. It is especially important during the "Christmas shopping season" that we recall that Jesus came to preach "good news to the poor" and "release to the oppressed." Let us remember the poor and the oppressed that are part of the shopping equation, people behind the scenes whom many shoppers never see or think about.
Workers, workers' rights advocates, unions, faith-based workers' justice organizations, and consumers are calling on Target to contract with responsible businesses that clean its retail stores and provide security in its corporate offices. Evidence from around the country indicates that Target currently contracts with irresponsible cleaning and security businesses that violate workers' rights. Target claims it bears no responsibility for workplace abuses that occur on its premises because it does not directly employ the janitors and security officers. The following case studies illustrate the extent to which Target has ignored its responsibility to ensure that workplace rights are upheld for everyone who works in a Target facility.
In Central Texas (San Antonio-Austin area), Target contracted with a labor contractor called Jim's Maintenance Service that recruited men and women to work as janitors in its stores. In teams of three or four, the janitors worked overnight shifts from 10 pm to 7-8 am, seven nights a week, though in some stores they were allowed a night off once or twice a month. When a worker took a night off, the remaining two or three janitors had to work harder and skip breaks in order to finish the same work with fewer hands.
Jim's worked exclusively for Target under a contract that Target wrote giving it complete control over Jim's business and the janitor's work. Target dictated the financial terms of the contract with Jim's, and established all of the janitors' work requirements by setting the workers' hours, supervising their work, providing all the cleaning supplies, and owning every store in which the janitors worked. Target managers prohibited the janitors from leaving work at the end of a shift until the managers certified the work was satisfactory according to a Target-developed checklist. Jim's role was to supply the cleaning machinery, and to recruit and pay the janitors, which it could not do until Target paid Jim's.
Though it dictated every aspect of the janitors' work, Target did not ensure that workers cleaning its stores received the overtime pay required by law for all hours in excess of 40 per week. The janitors worked 55-65 hours a week but received no overtime pay, and their semi-monthly wages were so low that many of them earned less than the legally required minimum wage, which at that time was $5.15 per hour.
In May 2006, Target discovered that janitors working on Jim's crews were about to sue Target for the illegal underpayment of wages. Target responded by terminating all of Jim's contracts on three day's notice and holding back $500,000 it owed Jim's for work the janitors on Jim's crews had already performed. Because Target contracts constituted all of Jim's business, Target's action immediately put Jim's out of business and denied the janitors their last paycheck. In the case of Itzep, et al. v. Target Corp. et al. (U.S. District Court, San Antonio), twenty-nine janitors are now suing Target for $400,000 in unpaid wages and damages. Target claims it was not the janitors' employer and therefore bears no responsibility for the janitors' work conditions or wages.
In California, Target contracts with Excel Building Services to clean many of its retail stores. Workers at Excel report ongoing violations of local wage and hour laws, as well as Federal labor laws. Responding to Excel's illegal activities, the City of San Francisco brought and settled a lawsuit against Excel for paying substandard wages similar to the wages the janitors working in Target stores are now reporting. When janitors attempted to speak to Target store managers about the workplace violations Excel is committing on its premises, the Target managers responded with indifference. Excel janitors are now organizing to defend their employment rights, and Excel workers cleaning IKEA stores have gone on strike to send the message that they will not tolerate Excel's illegal activities.
In its corporate headquarters in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Target contracts with Wackenhut Security. Wackenhut has a growing record of irresponsible behavior including discrimination lawsuits, fraud investigations ($20 million in Miami Dade County alone), falsifying training records, demanding excessive overtime, violating client policies, and retaliating against whistleblowers. While 70% of the security companies in Minneapolis have agreed to a set of employment standards that include fair wages, health insurance, job security, and the right to join a union without intimidation, Wackenhut does not abide by these standards and has refused to discuss them. Wackenhut security officers report that the company provides very little training and that employee morale is low. Wackenhut recently cut the hourly wage of its officers working in Target offices by more than one dollar per hour.
Members of our church are joining the janitors, security officers, and their allies in calling on Target to ensure that all who work in a Target store or office are guaranteed their legal workplace rights. Target can be a leader in business practices that benefit workers and consumers alike, but to do so, it must recognize its responsibility for treating every single person who enters a Target facility with fairness and dignity. If you would like to learn more or get involved, please contact Sharon Brown or the chair of our Christian Outreach Board, Tommie Pinkard.
Pledges for 2008
Through November 25, we have received 41 pledges for 2008 totaling $148,430. This is an excellent start toward our goal of 50 pledges and $165,000! Our thanks go out to everyone who has already pledged support for the year ahead, and especially to those who have pledged for the first time.
We're feeling positive about attaining our goals because last year we received 40 pledges for the current fiscal year totaling $155,746, and that was without the 11 first-time pledges that we've already received for 2008. If you pledged last year and intend to pledge for 2008 and just haven't got around to it, please drop your pledge form into the offering plate on Sunday or mail it to the church office.
Thank you so much!
Your Stewardship Committee
Chairs of our Boards
Trustees: Reuel Nash
Deacons: Betty Bodman
Christian Education: Paula Fracasso
Christian Outreach: Tommie Pinkard
Moderator John Goff
ADVENT SERVICE AND LUNCHEON -- DECEMBER 14
The Deacons will host the annual midday Advent service on Friday, December 14 at the church. All are welcome for the service at 11 a.m. and lunch afterwards. Please let the Trish at the church office know if you will need transportation.
IN OTHER NEWS FROM THE DEACONS:
Friendship Suppers are a great support to our growth as a community, and we are very grateful to Andria Miner and Alan Lippert for coordinating them. Please be in touch with them if you haven't already signed up to attend, or if there's someone you think might be too shy to sign up but would appreciate an invitation. The next gatherings will be December 8; January 19; and February 23.
A wonderful example of our community's care for one another has been the donations made toward a new cello for Robin Rosson (his was stolen a few weeks ago). Also be sure to look at the table in Fellowship Hall if you wish to send someone a greeting card or sign up to provide rides to church for those who don't always feel like getting out on the local our busy highways.
We are beginning to plan the spring retreat, April 11-13. If you have interest in a particular topic or program, or have a speaker to suggest, please be in touch with Rev. Tom or with Marilyn Vache.
The Nominating Committee asks that all who wish to be of service to the church in one of its elective posts starting in 2008 or who know of someone who might wish to serve please contact any of the following:
Paul Deisler (721-3325 or sinprsa@earthlink.net);
Matt Blackstock, (459-8595 or mblackstock@copper.net);
John Burlinson (cell, 254-634-7252, or John.Burlinson@dshs.state.tx.us);
or the church office.
PERSONALS
by Pat Oakes
All of us have a great deal to be thankful for and we all celebrated and gave thanks on Thanksgiving Day. However, two folks in our church family are especially thankful--Comfort Tysen and her daughter Waamene. Waamene attended her first day of 6th grade at O. Henry Middle School in late August. Comfort noticed that she was not feeling well that night. She had been prescribed a medication for some allergies. By the next morning she was clearly very ill. Comfort took Waamene to the doctor and after she was checked was taken immediately to the emergency room at Dell Children's Hospital. She had been given the wrong medication and had a terrible allergic reaction. To make a very long story short, she spent weeks in the hospital and missed 7 weeks of school. Fortunately she is going to have no long term effects from this--no scarring on her skin which was terribly blistered, no blindness which was a real possibility. The Austin Independent School District supplied teachers which kept Waamene up to speed even though she had to be fed intravenously for some time. Comfort was able to take time off work and insurance is covering expenses. Waamene is back in school, doing fine (her mother says she is "strong as a lion!"), and enjoying writing and creating her own cartoons.
At this writing Eleanor Towery was continuing to improve very slowly from her bad fall in August. She was still at Buckner Villas, 11110 Tom Adams Dr., Austin, TX 78753. Daughter Mary was hoping that the family would be able to bring her home for Thanksgiving Day with the entire Austin area Towery clan. Mary's husband Danny is back in Austin for the time being, so everyone was glad to see him. John is continuing to spend every day there with Eleanor and having lunch and dinner there--the "kids" take turns visiting with Eleanor in the evenings and then taking John home.
Continuing a long-time tradition in our church (encouraging home-grown musicians), eleven-year-old Emily Howicz, a 6th grader at Ridgeview Middle School in Round Rock, gave a lovely gift to the congregation in November. She played a beautiful flute solo during the church service. She has been studying flute for more than a year and is doing very well. Sister Tess just celebrated her 5th birthday and is enjoying preschool. Mom Jennifer is now a licensed physical therapist assistant and is working mostly with senior citizens at the Bertram Nursing Home and Trinity Care Center. She would prefer to be working in pediatrics but is very much enjoying her experience. Dad Jim continues his work as a financial lawyer at Dell.
Amy Harris gave a brilliant violin recital on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 11, at Jessen Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of the Doctor of Music Arts. There was a good crowd in the audience including about a dozen folks from the church. Everyone enjoyed a reception after the recital hosted by Amy's mom Karen who came in from Denver for the occasion. We have been so fortunate this fall to have Amy singing in the choir and subbing for Andy Strietelmeier when he is not able to play for us.
Don Brown and son Andy flew to Barcelona and had a great trip just for fun. They were impressed by Gaudi's architecture there and also a festival which involved young men in robes rolling 6-8 foot "monsters" on wheels which would periodically spew fire. They went on to Montpelier and found themselves surrounded by thousands and thousands of Australians who were there for a championship rugby game. They didn't go to the game but saw the celebration in the streets. They took the TGV train to Geneva and Lausanne and then went on to Frankfurt and Heidelburg where they were joined by Don's cousin from Monroe, LA. Andy had to go home at this point, but Don and his cousin went on to Brussels, London, Bath, Salisbury, the Cotswolds, and finished in Brighton.
Steven and Jeanine Neuse left the 12th of November for Ouro Preto, Brazil for a Partners of the Americas Conference. From there they went to Quito, Ecuador, to see the sites and on to a cruise and exploration of the Galapagos. They returned on Nov. 27th. They were in Texas Oct. 23rd - 30th. They stayed at Ms. Katie's House at the Eden Home visiting and doing things for Jeanine's ninety-two-year-old mother, shopping, purchasing tamales and Granzin meats, etc. They spent the week-end in San Antonio visiting their son Jonathan and his family. They were counting down the days until their daughter-in-law got home (to Germany) from Iraq to Micah and their sons.
Indomitable Clark Hubbs was doing water measurements in mid-November with a research assistant at the Brackenridge Tract down by Lake Lady Bird--the one that is being threatened with major development. Cathy was sent to a wonderful cardiologist to check out some heart irregularities to see if she needs coumadin. Cathy's comment is that what with her doctor's appointments and Clark's doctor's appointments they hardly have time at home to eat!
Nancy Edison reports that the church landscape is in the planting stage. Some of the desired plant choices are not available this time of year but will be in the spring. She encourages us to be patient. This design has a little something for everyone, as all churches have people with differing views and strong beliefs. There should be plenty of color and enough that is evergreen to have a basic garden when the deciduous plants are dormant. The benches should receive light shade when the trees grow to their full height; both trees bloom. Some plants will trail over the wall to create a softening effect from the street. There will be blooms that attract butterflies for the children to see. She looks forward (as do we all) to its completion and hopes it brings joy to everyone.
Our choir and the University Christian Church joined together for a wonderful concert on the first Sunday in November in remembrance of All Saints Day. Choir and church members enjoyed a potluck lunch at University Christian Church followed by a moving performance of Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen. Participating in the choir were Barbara Burnham, Zoe Castro, Amy Harris, Nodie Murphy, Hannah Norton, Sara Ross, Sarah Gourlie, Cathy Hubbs, Mathis Blackstock, Don Miles, and Chester Rosson. John Drachenberg had planned to sing but had had a dizzy spell that week and decided to be a part of the audience instead. A dozen other folks from the church were a part of the audience. Our church cellist Robin Rossen (another one of our wonderful home-grown musicians) was a part of the chamber orchestra which accompanied the singers.
In fact, Robin was playing the concert on his friend Morgan's borrowed cello. Several weeks before, his beloved cello ("Betsy") was stolen from the music room at Texas State University where he is studying. He had had the cello for 12 years. The authorities were immediately notified and all pawn shops and other venues were checked, but by mid-November "she" had not been found. Robin learned at that time that several other instruments had disappeared in the week or so before the theft of his cello. Robin reported with great joy on Sunday, Nov. 18, that with the help of Morgan who encouraged Robin to look for an instrument in Houston while she had her bow re-haired , that they found "the one." They hit the jackpot and found a great cello (as yet unnamed) at 60 percent off. Robin and his mom Barbara Burnham thanked the congregation for their support and contributions toward the purchase of the new cello.
Marilyn Gaddis, her step-granddaughter, Allison Carruthers, and her mom, Sandra,and her mom, Ellie Erler flew to Chicago in October for a "Girl's Weekend." They attended a fun "Memories with Mom" Revue and Dinner at American Girl Place. The weather cooperated for some good sightseeing and a City Architecture Boat Tour on the Chicago River. To celebrate Veterans Day, George Carruthers, along with 14 other veterans was honored at Canyon Ridge Middle School in the Leander School District. He was invited to attend by his granddaughter, Allison, who is a seventh grade student at the school. Grandson, Jonathan, also attended the beautiful ceremony. (George was able to wear his Air Force uniform, without alterations, to the ceremony!).
The entire Adams family, Jamie, Lauren, Philip, Kerry, Julia, and Michael took their first vacation in twelve years, spending a three-day weekend in Corpus Christi, to celebrate Michael's fifty-seventh birthday on the twelfth. The beaches were clear and the water was warm enough for swimming. Kerry is still at the IRS, in the season that would not die. Julia, a seventh grader at City School, is playing Yenta in the Drama Club's production of Fiddler on the Roof, and Lady McBeth in the school drama class abridged version. Michael reports that all are doing well.
Vic Appel had some very unexpected dizziness on Sunday evening Nov. 11, and drove himself to the hospital. There was some concern that he might have had a stroke, but it was finally determined that he had an inner ear problem. He had his already scheduled surgery on Tuesday to remove scar tissue from a previous surgery and then was discharged to go to HealthSouth rehab center for a few days. Daughter Cheryl drove in from Wisconsin and was planning to stay through Thanksgiving. They were planning to go to Greg's family in Kerrville for Thanksgiving if Vic was feeling up to it.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1 Sarah Moore
3 Sally E. Tomasek
6 Lisa Miriam Kirch
7 Jeffrey Lemley
8 Robin Rosson
10 Hester Novotny
12 Jennie Peet Ashton
Sarah Kirch
13 Carol Ann Burlinson
Audrey Loomis
14 Jake Burlinson
15 Sara Ross
Gedeon Karasi Bukasa
20 Carol Barrett
28 Larissa Pickens
29 Lynn Loomis
30 Mouloud Randal Sennour
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
This year's Christmas Pageant will be presented on December 16, 2007, during worship services. The church youth will perform "The Little Drummer Boy." If you are interested in helping with the production, please contact Jennifer Howicz (246-3753 / jhowicz@austin.rr.com) or Liz Nash (231-0045 / liznash@austin.rr.com).
CHILDREN'S CORNER
The nursery has been missing the children that are usually in attendance. We have enjoyed joining the Sunday School class a few times this month. When in the nursery, the children continue to enjoy play-doh," cooking" with plastic food, creating art projects, and building with Legos. We have a nice collection of beautiful junk and do not need any more at this time as we only have a limited amount of storage space. Thank you to all who have donated. Melissa McFerrin
NEWS FROM THE BRAZOS ASSOCIATION
The Brazos Association Fall Meeting was held on Saturday, October 20th at St. Peter's UCC in Coupland. At the meeting, we shared ideas that work in our churches using several brief presentations on topics like raising capital funds, mid-week fellowship and worship, children's choirs, and multi-church youth ministry. Rev. John Sumner showed us how St. Peter's accomplished a lovely sanctuary renovation that allows the use of a laptop/projector while preserving the historic feel of the church. St. Peter's music director, Sherry Walker, gave us a "tour" of the church's versatile electronic keyboard - an instrument that can simulate an organ, piano, and other instruments quite well. We also enjoyed a presentation on Slumber Falls and a video about our new church start, Creative Spirit, in South Austin. The group shared additional ideas, and we held our fall business meeting. St. Peter's provided wonderful hospitality, including a good lunch. About sixty people attended.
Several of our churches have cemeteries that go back to the founding of the congregation. St. John's Richland has a cemetery adjacent to the rest of the church property. Recently, one of their Boy Scouts gave his time and effort as an Eagle Scout project to obtain a historic cemetery designation for the St. John's cemetery from the Texas Historical Commission. This designation will protect the land around the cemetery, which includes the land where the church buildings sit, from damaging development efforts as well as providing more resources in the future for the preservation of the cemetery. Since Pflugerville is growing out toward St. John's and a route being explored for the Trans-Texas Corridor is nearby, this designation will help preserve the church as the area is built up. If anyone would like to find out more about how St. John's obtained this designation, contact Rev. Michael Vaughn. This designation is a real gift for St. John's, and we celebrate it with them!
Blessings in Christ,
Liz Nash, Associate Conference Minister, Brazos Association
THE NUTCRACKER
Something fun for the whole family during the Christmas holiday season! Come with us to the see the Nutcracker on Saturday, December 15th at 2pm. It's a great event for both adults and children AND Michelle Ulerich will be performing. Look for the sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall or contact Betty Bodman if you'd like to go
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
December 2, 11:00 am, First Sunday of Advent, Holy Communion, HOPE
Isaiah 2: 1-5
Matthew 24: 36-44
December 9, 11:00 am, Second Sunday of Advent, PEACE
Isaiah 11: 1-10
Matthew 3: 1-12
Friday, December 14, 11:00 am, Advent Worship and Luncheon
Advent Communion Service followed by lunch
December 16, 11:00 am, Third Sunday of Advent, LOVE,
Children's Christmas Pageant, The Little Drummer Boy
Isaiah 35: 1-10
Matthew 11: 2-11
December 23, 11:00 am, Fourth Sunday of Advent, JOY
Isaiah 7: 10-16
Matthew 1: 18-25
December 23, 7:00 pm, Christmas Candlelight Service
Followed by Christmas Party at Oakes Home
Readings and Carols
December 25, 12:00pm Christmas Service and Open Door Dinner
Luke 2: 1-20
December 30, 11:00 am, First Sunday of Christmas
Isaiah 63: 7-9
Matthew 2: 1-12
The Return of the Friendship Dinners:
Last fall and spring many of us enjoyed meeting together for dinner in smaller groups at people's homes. The primary purpose of the gatherings is to build community and friendship. The groups of 6-10 people will change for each date. Hosts would provide (besides their home) a main course and would assign others to bring appetizers, salads, etc. If you don't drive, we'll help you find a ride. The dates for this season are: December 8; January 19; February 23. We'll have sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall and hope you can participate on at least one of the dates. Andria Miner, Betty Bodman
COFFEE HOUR
Please sign up in the Fellowship Room to be coffee hour hosts on an upcoming Sunday. The coffee hour time is such a good opportunity to visit old friends and meet visitors. We keep coffee and ginger ale and some punch fixings in the pantry in the kitchen. There are usually paper napkins, and we use coffee mugs and punch cups to avoid wasting natural resources. Your menu can be as simple or complicated as you want. Cookies and/or chips and salsa are just fine! If you have questions, talk to Pat Oakes, Tommie Pinkard, or Lynne Lemley.
Deadline for January VISITOR -- December 14
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