The Western New York Workers' Rights Board was established in 1995 as a project of the Coalition for Economic Justice. This Workers' Rights Board is one of about seventeen such boards across the country, and strives to provide another level of support to workers who are being mistreated by their employers. Workers have been assisted through the Workers' Rights Board when other agencies have not been able to help.

The independent Board is comprised of more than thirty prominent community leaders from throughout Western New York and aims 'to support, strengthen and publicize the rights of working people.' The diverse Board is made up of leaders in the religious community, politicians representing all levels of government, representatives of community organizations, attorneys, physicians, educators, and others. The board members bring expertise in their fields to provide support to under-represented workers who would otherwise stand alone.

The Workers' Rights Board provides a moral voice for economic issues upon which justice for working men and women rests. On the occasions that working conditions or employer actions are alleged to be especially grievous, the Workers' Rights Board formally convenes a hearing at which testimony is offered and received.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Fr. Jack Weimer

Rev. William Gillison
Pastor, Mount Olive Baptist Church

Sister Jean Sliwinski
Peace and Justice Comm., Catholic Diocese

Rev. Anthony Harris
Pastor, Free Spirit Missionary Baptist

Rev. Daniel Schifeling
Pastor, Nativity United Church of Christ

Fr. Francis Mazur
Co-Dir., Network of Religious Communities

Rev. Stan Bratton
Executive Director, Network of Religious Communities

Deacon James Anderson
VP of Programs, Network of Religious Communities

Rev. Merle Showers
Community Minister, United Methodists

Rev. Cathy Reily-Goddard
Dir., Concerned Ecumenical Ministries

Rev. Robert Grimm
Former Dir., Council of Churches

Joan Malone
Regional Dir., NYS Labor-Religion Coalition

Rev. Shirley Chan
Pastor, Riverside Salem UCC

Rev. Richard Hemann
United Church of Christ

Patricia Griffin
Wayside Presbyterian Church

Rev. Cam Miller
Greater New Life Full Gospel Baptist Church

William Marx
Pax Christi of WNY

LABOR LEADERS

Angelo Vellake
President, Buffalo Central Labor Council

Michael Hoffert
President, WNY Area Labor Federation

Robert Mootry
Pres., Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

COMMUNITY LEADERS

Jim Mang
Chair, St. Joseph Social Action Comt.

Roger Cook
Exec. Director, WNYCOSH

Rosa Gibson
President, Community Action Information Center

Ellen Kennedy
President, Citizen Action of NY

Aaron Bartley
Executive Dir., People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo)

ATTORNEYS

Richard Lipsitz, Sr., Esq.
Lipsitz Green Fahringer Roll Salisbury & Cambria

Carl Green, Esq.
Lipsitz Green Fahringer Roll Salisbury & Cambria

Sara Faherty, Esq.
SUNY Buffalo School of Law

Robert Reden, Esq.
Partner, Reden and O'Donnell

James Attelson, Esq.
Professor, SUNY Buffalo School of Law

Barbara Kavanaugh, Esq.
Confidential Law Clerk, Judge John O'Donnell

Catherine Creighton, Esq.
Creighton Pearce Johnsen & Giroux

Mark Pearce, Esq.
Creighton Pearce Johnsen & Giroux

ACADEMICS

Susan Davis, Ph.D.
Dept. of Economics, Buffalo State College

Lou Jean Fleron
Cornell School of Industrial Labor Relations

Rudy Mueller, MD
Physician

Susan Woods
Cornell School of Industrial Labor Relations

Henry Taylor
SUNY Buffalo, Office of Urban Initiatives

ELECTED OFFICIALS

George Arthur
Former Pres., Buffalo Common Council

Antoine Thompson
Masten District Council Member

Demone Smith
Erie County Legislator

Crystal Peoples
NY State Assemblywoman

Maria Whyte
Erie County Legislator