Religious leaders urge Cisco to 'act justly' with its janitors
Added June 15th, 2009
Religious leaders called on Cisco management to do the "right thing, not just the profitable thing" at a Tuesday, June 9 worship service that ended a week-long rolling fast in support of the high-tech company’s building maintenance work force.
Cisco janitors, 40 percent of whom have been laid off, and their supporters attended the service at St. Joseph's Cathedral in downtown San Jose, which was organized by the Interfaith Council on Race, Religion, Economic and Social Justice, a coalition of more than 400 clergy and people of faith.
Father Eduardo Samaniego, pastor of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Rabbi Melanie Aron of Congregation Shir Hadash and the Rev. Deborah T. Simon of Recalling Spirit Ministries led the interfaith service, which included songs, prayers and blessings, and the breaking and sharing of challah bread -- a symbol of community in the Jewish tradition.
"Myself, Rabbi Aron, Rev. Simon and a number of other religious leaders are calling on our congregations to help put pressure on Cisco's owners and command them to 'act justly,' as the prophet Micah invites us to do," Father Samaniego said in his homily. "'Justly' means doing the right thing, not just the legal thing. It means doing the right thing, not just the expedient thing. It means doing the right thing, not just the profitable thing. The bottom line is not God's bottom line. God's bottom line is what is of a PROPHET, not of PROFIT. God's bottom line is PRAYING FOR not PREYING ON."
Following service, Cisco workers and supporters left for a rally outside the Fairmont, where Cisco CEO John Chambers was being presented with an educational award.
Need to search endorsement info on the go?
Former Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa disappears. Presumed to be dead, his body has never been found.