“Organizing to Combat Wage Theft” is the topic of a public presentation by two representatives of Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), scheduled for Tuesday, October 23, 7 p.m., in the Monroe County Public Library auditorium. Presenters are Sung Yeon Choi-Morrow, who serves as IWJ national organizer, and Dianne Enriquez, who serves as IWJ national worker center network coordinator.

“Wage theft—not getting paid for your work or not getting paid everything you’re owed—is an epidemic problem throughout the U.S., and Indiana is no exception,” says John Clower, facilitator of South-Central Indiana Jobs with Justice. “We’re thrilled to be hosting two speakers from Interfaith Worker Justice, perhaps the leading national organization focused on this problem.”

“The best protection against wage theft,” continues Clower, “is to belong to a union. But for the large number of non-unionized workers, other remedies need to be pursued, in conjunction with the enforcement work of state and federal departments of labor.”

As IWJ national organizer, Choi-Morrow helps new interfaith groups form across the country by connecting local religious, academic and labor communities. She studied Political Science and Urban Studies at Wheaton College and earned an M.Div from McCormick Theological Seminary. She is a deacon at Edgewater Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Before joining IWJ, Sung Yeon worked as a community organizer for the Asian American Institute, particularly on issues of immigration reform, the state budget, redistricting and voting.

Enriquez has more than 10 years of experience as a lead organizer, popular education trainer, and campaign coordinator. Previously, she served as Director of Young Workers United in San Francisco, a worker center that organizes young and immigrant workers in the restaurant industry.

Event co-sponsors are South-Central Indiana Jobs with Justice and White River Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

For more information, e-mail jclower2@yahoo.com.