JUJ, Jews United for Justice, has been an active advocate for workers’ rights since its inception 25 years ago.

We affirm JFS Workers United in their desire to form a union as part of the Communication Workers of America and we affirm that their desire to form a union is congruent with the mission and values of Jewish Family Services, including helping support St. Louisans, making the world a better place, aspiring for excellence, showing kindness, and calling for fairness.

Furthermore, we believe that the workers at Jewish Family Services desire to form a union is firmly aligned with the deep Jewish commitment to worker justice found in our sacred texts and in our history.

Contemporary sources for Jewish involvement in labor and worker justice issues include the Jewish Labor Committee, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, the Workers’ Circle and Hey Alma.

Locally, JUJ is actively engaged with Missouri Jobs with Justice and a number of our leaders also serve as members of MOJWJ’s St. Louis Workers’ Rights Board, as well as Faith and Labor Alliance Breakfast. We are also a member organization of JCRC.

Given the mission and values of JFS and the deep connection between Judaism and worker justice, our hope is that you will immediately and voluntarily recognize the JFS Workers United union.

Thank you!

Jews United for Justice (St. Louis)

The Steering Committee

Jewish Family Services (JFS)

Board of Directors

c/o Molly Salky, President

Dear Members of JFS Board of Directors,

On April 4, 2024, six members of the steering committee of Jews United for Justice (JUJ) met with Miriam Seidenfeld and Molly Salky to discuss the union organizing campaign at JFS. You may have already seen the letter we sent to the JFS Board prior to our April 4th meeting. If not, we are including a copy of our first letter to acquaint you with JUJ and our support for workers' rights.

We are writing to you now because we feel that actions taken by JFS during the course of the workers' union organizing drive are quite in contrast with what we heard at our April 4th meeting. The meeting was very cordial and there was a good exchange of thoughts. Miriam and Molly said they were surprised to learn about union organizing and they confessed to knowing little about unions. They said a lot had been done in recent years to raise the pay scales and they felt they already had a structure and process in place for employees to be able to raise concerns and be heard. They indicated wanting an election, rather than card check recognition, so that everyone in the bargaining unit would have an opportunity to vote. We suggested and explained the option of a neutrality agreement, where the desired election would take place and JFS would agree to remain neutral. We noted that the law firm hired by JFS, Ogletree Deakins, has established a national reputation as an aggressive "union-busting" firm. We discussed at some length the relationship and broader reputational damage likely to result should JFS pursue the typical combative and polarizing tactics widely associated with this law firm. Both Miriam and Molly repeatedly assured us they were not interested in engaging in that style of campaign and they would rein in the attorneys whenever necessary to prevent unnecessary and undesired consequences. JUJ members talked about the potential benefits of having a union at JFS and asked that JFS stay true to Jewish and JFS values during the campaign.

After meeting with Miriam and Molly, we then met with some JFS employees, and saw written materials that led to the Union filing Unfair Labor Practice charges against JFS. Unfortunately, what we heard and saw was totally consistent with boilerplate messaging and tactics common to aggressive anti-union campaigns orchestrated by law firms such as Ogletree Deekins. We were very disappointed to see that JFS management had chosen the option of vigorously opposing the union campaign instead of remaining neutral and simply preserving the voting rights of all employees. Clearly, JFS management has a different perspective than JFS employees who are advocating for a union on what is best for your agency. We understand that you do not like their strategy and language, and they do not like yours. However, after talking to Miriam and Molly, and also talking with some JFS employees, we can say with certainty that both sides share a deep concern for the importance of the JFS work to improve the lives of many in our community.

We believe deeply and support the right of employees to organize. It allows employees to speak with one voice when talking to management about their issues. Potentially, union campaigns can result in mutual respect for the process and working out differences to the benefit of the mission supported by all. Conversely, an antagonistic campaign can result in creating a vitriol that damages the relationship and the mission. It can further result in besmirching your highly respected Jewish institution, and damaging the relationship to both the Jewish community and to the community JFS serves.

The question remains, will this be resolved by listening respectfully to each other or by a head-on car crash that damages all concerned? It may well be that a broader conversation across the St. Louis Jewish community can help avoid what appears to be a damaging, hyperbolic confrontation. We urge you to step back and find a way to resolve this problem respectfully for the benefit of all of us.

We ask that you circulate this letter to all members of your board and all of your past presidents.

Sincerely,

JUJ Steering Committee

David Lander

JUJ Chair