Religious leaders should be natural allies when it comes to developing partnerships to improve the lives of working people. Scriptures from different faiths are full of inspiring words that touch on this topic. Unfortunately, we don't always look to religious institutions in our search for community partners.

Kim Bobo, executive director of the National Interfaith Community for Worker Justice, has put together a list of ways to build religion-labor partnerships. Among her suggestions:

• Come "out of the closet" in your own faith community. Let people know you are a union member or a union leader. Talking about your union and the role it plays in creating a just workplace will help educate people in the religious community about unions.
  
• Acquaint yourself with your faith body's teachings on the dignity of labor and the role of labor unions in society so you are equipped to talk with people in your congregation.
  
• Pray for low-wage workers, especially farm workers who harvest and process our food, child care workers who nurture our youth, and nursing home workers who care for our sick and elderly family members.
  
• Offer to speak to your congregation (during or after the service, depending on what's appropriate) about the values religions and labor have in common.
  
• Invite your congregation's leaders to join you in labor support actions throughout the year. Very few religious leaders have been at a labor rally or joined a picket line. Doing so will help them understand the issues and gain a greater appreciation for unions.
  
• Talk with your union's organizers. Find out how they are building partnerships with the religious community in organizing drives and contract campaigns. Offer to help make contacts with leaders in your congregation or denomination.
  
• Establish an employment ministry in your place of worship that will help members of the congregation to find jobs and to practice their faith and values in the workplace. Consider how your congregation is as an employer. Does the janitor or secretary receive a living wage and family benefits? If not, can you work with the budget committee to move toward more just wages and benefits?

The complete list, and lots of other information on working with community partners, is available online at www.aflcio.org/.