Holiday Jeer for World Conference on Religion & Peace

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002 -- New York City

Undaunted by the cold winds that gusted up from the East River, over a 100 spirited protestors gathered at the international headquarters of World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), to send this world-renowned non-profit an enraged "holiday jeer" for illegally firing a former employee for speaking out. Among picket signs with drawings of monotonous office cubicles and slogans such as "WCRP: White Collar Retaliation and Punishment", protestors unveiled the recent launch of a federal government investigation by the National Labor Relations Board of WCRP for unjustly harassing and retaliating against Nancy Eng, who worked as a Program Associate at WCRP's Women's Program. Denied her right to eat and forced to be on call for 24 hours, Nancy is now fighting WCRP for illegally firing her in June of this year for organizing to change these conditions.

The NLRB investigation comes at a time when more than ever workers are finding themselves reeling from the staggering economy while their families struggle through the holiday season. Employers are shamelessly using the economy as an excuse to step up the exploitation of their workers and punish them for asking for their basic rights. Despite their humanitarian missions, non-profits like WCRP are eager to join in on the action. On Tuesday, protesters put forth a call to office workers across the nation to take a stand now before it is too late.

Many workers also spoke in support of Nancy at the rally, citing their own struggles, whether they were restaurant workers from Chinatown, injured workers, or other office workers. "It's time for office workers to stand up and take back what office employers are taking from us," said Karen, an office worker in Manhattan. "I'm not going to accept these little crumbs. I'm not going to settle just because people say it's better than nothin.,"

A group of members attempted to deliver a giant holiday card signed by protestors with a 'greeting' to WCRP to demand Nancy's reinstatement as well as recognition of workers' rights to organize to improve conditions. Yet when the security hesitantly called up to WCRP, the Secretary-General cowardly refused to accept the card. Cornetta McNeil, an injured home attendant fighting for her Workers' Compensation rights, was one of the members who attempted to deliver the card. "They're cowards. They don't even want to take a simple card from us," Cornetta angrily reported back to the crowd. Cornetta takes WCRP's attack on Nancy personally. "Look at Nancy -- she's fighting for her life. I'm an injured worker, but it's no different. We are both fighting for our lives. Like Pataki and his Workers' Compenation Board…all of you are the same. But we're not gonna give up. We're never gonna give up."

The picket and press conference took place in front of the WCRP international headquarters in New York City, located just a stones throw away from the United Nations.

NMASS Home | White Collar Sweatshop Campaign