Justice For Temple Stone Workers
On May 11th, 2021, caste oppressed workers who had worked in Robbinsville, New Jersey came forward to demand change for temple stonemasons and filed a lawsuit in the federal district court of New Jersey. With the support of unions in the United States and India, these workers are demanding change to a global economy. The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and its Administrative District Council of New Jersey (BAC) and the Pathak Gadhafi Mazdoor Suraksha Sangh (PGMSS), a labor union representing more than 3,000 stone carvers in the state of Rajasthan, India, issued a joint statement demanding safe worksites, fair wages, and rights and dignity on the job for these workers and all stonemasons and stone carvers.
Statements of support, information about solidarity actions, and other relevant information to support the campaign will be posted here.
Statements
BWI Condemns Forced Labour of Indian Workers in U.S.
Building and Wood Workers International (BWI)
Unions in U.S. and India Demand Justice for Construction Workers in New Jersey
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Press
(United States)
Gov. Murphy Calls Alleged Living Conditions at Hindu Temple ‘Horrific’
News 12 New Jersey — May 12, 2021
Hindu Sect Is Accused of Using Forced Labor to Build N.J. Temple
New York Times — May 11, 2021
Suit: Workers Lured from India Paid $1.20 Per Hour for Years
AP — May 11, 2021
Indian Workers Allege ‘Shocking Violations in Building Hindu Temple in New Jersey
Reuters — May 11, 2021
Indian Workers Who Built U.S. Hindu Temple File Suit Alleging Abuse
Al Jazeera — May 11, 2021
Hindu Temple in New Jersey Accused of ‘Shocking Violations’ in Forced-Labor Lawsuit
NBC News — May 11, 2021
New Jersey Hindu Temple Allegedly Forced Laborers To Work For $1.20 Per Hour
Forbes — May 11, 2021
Federal Agents Probe Hindu Sect for Using Forced Labor to Build New Jersey Temple
The Hill — May 11, 2021
Overworked, Underpaid and Far from Home: Workers from India Abused in Construction of New Jersey Temple, Lawsuit Charges
New York Daily News — May 11, 2021
Indian Workers Held Captive and Forced to Build New Jersey Temple, Lawsuit Claims
New York Post — May 11, 2021
Suit: Workers Lured from India Paid $1.20 Per Hour for Years
ABC News — May 11, 2021
U.S. Agents Probe Sect for Alleged Forced Labor
USA Today — May 11, 2021
(International)
Dalit Workers Allege ‘Shocking Violations’ in Building Temple in New Jersey
The Wire — May 12, 2021
Hindu Sect Accused of Trafficking Dalit Workers to Build US Temple
The Quint — May 12, 2021
Indian Workers Lured to U.S. and Paid US $1.20 per Hour to Build Hindu Temple, Lawsuit Says
South China Post — May 12, 2021
U.S. Agents Probe Sect for Alleged Forced Labor
The Indian Express — May 12, 2021
Indian Workers Allege ‘Forced Labour’, Other Violations by Religious Sect at Temple Site in US
Scroll.In — May 12, 2021
Swaminarayan Temple in U.S. Raided, Workers Taken from India Treated as Forced Labour: Report
The Print — May 12, 2021
Indian Workers Who Built Hindu Temple in New Jersey File Lawsuit, Allege Abuse
India Today — May 12, 2021