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Unitarian Universalist Service Committee researcher Amber Moulton helped draft a report highlighting terrible working conditions at a Tyson Foods poultry plant in Arkansas. Speaking at a press conference, Moulton said that in addition to low wages and harassment, workers are often not allowed to use the bathroom during their shift. “People need to be granted equitable access to bathroom breaks,” said Moulton. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – 2.14.16)
More coverage:
“Wage Theft, Sexual Assault, And No Sick Leave: The Horrible Conditions Facing Poultry Workers” (ThinkProgress – 2.9.16)
“Poultry Industry Workers Protest Wages, Discriminatory Practices” (OzarksFirst.com – 2.7.16)
Learn more about the report and supporting poultry plant workers at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.
Affirming the broad religious support for abortion access
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a potentially landmark case with implications for limiting abortion access nationwide, the Rev. Debra Haffner, a Unitarian Universalist minister and founder of the Religious Institute, makes the case for broad religious support for abortion. Among other things, she quotes Pew Research finding that there is only one religious group in America that opposes abortion access, white evangelical Christians. (The Hill – 2.19.16)
Learn more about advocacy around the Supreme Court hearing from the Religious Institute.
In the congregations
The Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, held a worship service to unite the community in response to a recent incident of LGBT flag defacement. The flag hung outside a local health clinic that serves LGBT members in the community. The flag will be replaced by another that displays signatures and statements of support from community members. (CBS Pittsburgh – 2.14.16)
Many community members attended a recent forum at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, Massachusetts, with a panel of local Muslims answering questions about their faith. The church’s minister, the Rev. Aaron Payson, said the forum was organized with the hope that increased interaction will bring about increased tolerance. (Telegram & Gazette – 2.17.16)
Longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, New Hampshire, Paul Doolittle feared he may have to sell his family’s farm to settle debts. Working with fellow members of his church, he discovered a different option—creating a religiously based cooperative living space on the farm. The congregation’s minister, the Rev. Patrick McLaughlin, sits on the board of what is now SunPoint Farm Sanctuary and sees its growth as an exciting opportunity to live out Unitarian Universalist values. (Union Leader – 2.12.16)