What is the Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice?

The Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin (ICWJ), established in Madison in 1999, is a coalition of individuals, religious congregations, interfaith bodies, labor unions, and community organizations concerned about economic and worker justice. Our mission is to educate and mobilize the religious and labor communities of South Central Wisconsin on worker rights issues, to actively build relationships between faith and labor groups, and to support the rights of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining.

In November, we opened the doors to the Workers' Rights Center, a volunteer-run resource center for low-wage and immigrant workers.  The Workers' Rights Center is now an independent 501(c)(3). Find out more about the Workers' Rights Center.

In addition to the success of the Worker Rights Center, the Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice continues to hold educational events throughout the community. Our English and Spanish Wisconsin Workers’ Rights Manual are available to individuals and unions throughout Wisconsin. We hold periodic trainings in Spanish and English to instruct low-wage workers of their rights. In January, we held a training on worker rights geared to social service providers. This Labor Day, we will again bring the ICWJ message to religious institutions in our annual Labor in the Pulpit Project. Additionally, the ICWJ has been involved in several workplace union campaigns, including aiding the unionizing effort at Oakwood Village (East and West), and supporting UFCW in their strike against Tyson Foods.

The Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin currently has two paid staff: Rabbi Renee Bauer, the ICWJ Director, and Geri Girard, the bookkeeper.

Find out how to help the ICWJ.