Dear ,

Airport workers are busy during the holiday season, as many people fly to see their families over the holidays. Virginia’s two largest airports – Dulles International Airport (IAD), also referred to as Dulles, and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), also referred to as National – have more than 5,000 subcontracted service workers. They include wheelchair attendants, baggage handlers, terminal cleaners, cabin cleaners, and non-TSA security. These workers are living in one of the most expensive areas in the nation while making less than the Washington, D.C. minimum wage. 

The employers of subcontracted service workers at Virginia’s largest airports are not required to provide them paid sick days or health insurance. In fact, research by 32BJ SEIU found that one contractor operating at DCA and IAD provided health insurance benefits to just 17 out of 313 bargaining unit employees (5%). This creates a crisis for the largely Black, Brown, and immigrant workers performing critical jobs who must choose between taking care of themselves or their children and getting paid. Workers who go to work sick endanger their coworkers, the public, and passengers. Many workers have lost their lives due to COVID-19 and/or the lack of access to health care. This holiday season, VICPP is continuing to support these workers. 

If you live in Northern Virginia, please attend (in person) the Airport Worker’s Forum. It is: 

Date/Time:   Thursday, December 15 at 6:00 p.m. 

Place:   United Christian Parish, 11508 N. Shore Dr., Reston, VA 20191 

Registration Link: CLICK HERE.
And use this shorter link to share: bit.ly/AirportWorkersForum 

If you live anywhere in Virginia, sign our letter that we will be delivering to The Metro Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) asking it to set a standard to ensure that all contracted/subcontracted airport workers have paid sick days and employer-provided health insurance. MWAA has the ability to set such a standard that would allow workers to protect themselves, their families, and airline passengers. CLICK HERE to sign the letter. And use this shorter link to share the letter: bit.ly/AirportWorkersLetter 

In the upcoming General Assembly, VICPP will be supporting bills to provide sick days, but we are struggling to build the needed support in the House of Delegates. If we can’t get bills passed in the upcoming session, we will ask all candidates running for House and Senate seats if they will support a paid sick day standard – hoping to build the support for 2024. All workers need paid sick days. Let’s support airport workers this season. 

Thank you. 

 
Sincerely,

Kim Bobo
Executive Director

We are bringing back our Social Media Team this year. We are asking for volunteers who will agree to post daily (Monday through Friday) during the General Assembly using a draft posting we will send you. This is very effective so rally up everyone you can and sign up! A massive thank you to those of you who have already signed up! If you can help with the Social Media Team, email Director of Communications, Ayesha Taylor, at: AyeshaGT@virginiainterfaithcenter.org
You can also click the button below to do so.

Join VICPP at the General Assembly to advocate social justice on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023! We're so excited to be back in-person for our flagship advocacy day in 2023! 
 
Register before December 31 to receive early bird pricing ($30)! The price for tickets purchased after January 1, 2023 will automatically go up to $40.

Find more information and all updates at:
tinyurl.com/dfap2023

Or click the button below.

Questions? Email: AyeshaGT@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Students of Virginia -- Join us to learn the legislative process in Virginia and how to advocate with your elected representatives! Come into Richmond Thursday evening (Feb. 2) for dinner with legislators, an overview of how to lobby, and a social time. Friday morning (Feb. 3), we will start the day with an opportunity to meet with your representatives in the General Assembly. Afterwards, we will have lunch and workshops on how to bring advocacy to campus, and standing up for justice in various spheres. Keep an eye out for workshop registrations coming soon! 

Bonus: We're working with some universities for professors to offer class credit when you attend this event! Check with your professor to find out if you qualify.

Questions? Email VICPP New Leadership Development Organizer Dr. Terri Erwin at: Terri@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Click the button below for event info and to register!

This prison is such a mess! Virginia can do better. We urge Secretary of Homeland Security Bob Mosier and Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) Director Harold Clarke to cancel the contract with The GEO Group and return management of this prison to the Department of Corrections. Click the button below to use our simple automated system to email VADOC Director Clarke. Use our template message or write your own.

The 2022-2023 Holiday Advocacy Calendar is ready for sharing! Our team has put together an interfaith calendar marking the festivities of the next few months, along with a series of actions you can take to make sure justice plays a role in your celebrations. Please share widely, in your congregation’s newsletter or bulletin boards, and with friends. Check it out and enjoy the festivities! Simply click the button below and be sure to share the link!

For a more comprehensive list of upcoming events, please click the button below to check out the VICPP Events webpage.  

Report on Virginia jail fees hindered by spotty data and redacted contracts

The Virginia Mercury, Dec. 7, 2022

By Graham Moomaw