Time for action against organized scientology’s labor abuses

[SME]

By now many of you have read something about the new legal case filed against organized scientology for their major abuses of labor and other related laws.

As a quick reference, here are links to several threads about this matter:

1) the first thread announcing this new suit filed made by myself on WhyWeProtest. The suit was filed by attorney Barry Van Sickle representing Marc Headley as the plaintiff:

http://tinyurl.com/9frucj

2) a copy of the actual legal complaint filed on January 5, 2009:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/9856545/Complaint-Filed-1509

3) Marc Headley’s first posting on this subject:

http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/viewtopic.php?t=29899&postorder=asc

4) another posting I made on this subject telling of an administrative complaint filed before the suit which gave many more details of the legal violations:

http://tinyurl.com/9sp5jz

5) a copy of the actual administrative complaint which was filed on November 17, 2008 (edited to remove names of two people covered in the complaint that organized scientology intimidated into dropping the action):

http://tinyurl.com/7o8r5y

Much is being done behind the scenes by attorneys and others regarding all the above as matters of fact and law are digested and analyzed with tactics and strategy being discussed.

There is also much discussion on various forums and in private messages and emails of people in support of this action. Some, who were ex staff of organized scientology wonder what they can do about all this and if this legal action could somehow apply to them.

I believe it is too early to know who all should be involved, how and if this will proceed to class action status and, if so, when, etc. While anyone should feel free to get in touch with Marc about this as per his posting above, I suggest there is something huge that can be done here and now that truly stands a great chance of making a very positive difference.

I am asking all ex (and even current) staff scientologists who ever were on staff in any organized scientology organizations within the state of California to at least consider making a report of the crimes and abuses you suffered at the hands of organized scientology when on staff.

Have a look at the “administrative complaint” filed by Barry Van Sickle on November 17, 2007 (the link = http://tinyurl.com/7o8r5y ). It was addressed to:

“California Labor & Workforce Development Agency
Attention: Doug Hoffner, Undersecretary
801 K Street, Suite 2101
Sacramento, CA 95814”

You could write your report to them or simply call the agency for a local address to which you can send such a report and then send your report accordingly.

You don’t have to but you might consider sending a copy of your report to the appropriate organized scientology body. For example, those covered in that letter of November 17 worked for Golden Era Productions (a part of the Church of Scientology International). Thus they sent a copy of their letter to:

“Golden Era Productions
19625 Highway 79
Gilman Hot Springs, CA 92583”

You are concerned citizens taking a stand to report abuses of the labor laws. Maybe this will mean you can be compensated for abuses you endured but even if it doesn’t you can be making a difference in getting abuses stopped.

If enough people make their reports I cannot imagine it would not have a huge positive impact towards stopping such abuses. Think of all the possible results such as the Department of Labor FINALLY “getting it” and actually doing something about it. Think of all the current staff in organized scientology that will see these reports (if you decide to send copies to organized scientology) and what effect it may have on them to open their eyes and confront the horror that is part of their daily lives.

It doesn’t matter which organization you worked for in California. It could be the Church of Scientology International, Religious Technology Center, Church of Spiritual Technology, the old Church of Scientology of California, the current “major orgs” there such as the Advanced Organization of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, American Saint Hill Organization in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Organization, etc., etc.

A simple check of the main websites of organized scientology will give you their addresses if you want them.

What can be covered in your report to the Department of Labor? Any abuses you suffered as part of being on staff in organized scientology. They are almost countless. Some are covered in the above noted letter of November 17 and include:

“LAB 98.6 Retaliation for filing a labor complaint
LAB 201 Wages due upon discharge
LAB 204 Timely payment required
LAB 206 Any release or waiver of wages is null and void
LAB 226 Proper pay records
LAB 226.7 Proper meal breaks must be provided
LAB 432.5 Improper statement cannot be required
LAB 510 California overtime laws
LAB 512 California meal break provisions
LAB 551-552 One day rest in 7 day week
LAB 1102.5 Employee right to report violation
LAB 1175 et. seq. Records and rates on minor employees
LAB 1194-1197 Minimum wage must be paid
LAB 1290 et. seq. Improper employment of minors”

The list goes on and on. How about being beaten while on staff? How about forced lie detector interrogations under duress?

There are THOUSANDS of us.

Now is the time, now is the opportunity and now finally we can all take a stand and make a difference here.

If only a page long you can make a complaint. Tell what scientology organizations for which you worked, when and what abuses you endured and/or violations you witnessed. Ask for your government to do something to help stop the horror which are the working conditions in organized scientology. Be 100% honest in all you report.

You are doing NOTHING WRONG in being a concerned citizen making this report. For years OSA and organized scientology could stop anyone making such a report and nothing would ever come of it. Those days are over.

2008 was a big year for exposing many of the lies, abuses and crimes of organized scientology. IMHO it was nothing compared to what lies ahead in 2009, especially if we will take a stand such as above.

Organized scientology has done a good job of convincing people that the IRS deal makes it a “church”. That has been their legal and PR line for years. The unstated assumption is that a church can do about anything less than murder and mayhem because of the constitutional separation of church and state. That is wrong but I believe that even most lawyers came away from law school with that mistaken belief.

This ends now!

I only ask that all concerned that do not need or wish to remain anonymous for reasons personal to them consider this. All of you who can find it in your hearts to make such a report to the Labor Department please do so. Imagine what could come of 100 such reports! Imagine 500. How about 1,000 or more?

The days of organized scientology committing untold abuses under cover of religious cloaking and corporate veils while stifling the truth through threats and intimidation can be nearing an end. It is up to us to end it.

When I wrote to David Miscavige and his attorney in 2007 pointing out what an abuser, criminal and liar he was and how many people he hurt I was threatened by one of their main attorneys who demanded that I stop posting and telling the truth. Well, I’m still here posting and telling the truth just like many others are now.

They told me that organized scientology will never be reformed or otherwise changed by any of us out of the inner circle and I was laughed at.

Oh really?

I don’t think so!!!

Let’s end this.

IMHO

Larry Brennan
_________________
My blog: http://larrybren.blogspot.com/

”Lay gentle
Magic baby
Everything’s alright
The pain is gone
There’s naught to fear
Let my arms be your world tonight”.

- from the poem "Birth of a Faery"

[BTs2Free]

Awesome Larry,

Great idea! I'm writing my reports tonight and sending them out ASAP.

Cheers,
John

p.s. - I'll be reporting on abuses and such things that specifically relate to the Int Base, and beyond sending copies to just Gold and RTC, I think I'll also send copies out to lower level orgs so that possibly staff at the lower echelons can get an inside scoop on some of the abuses happening above their heads. Let the internal "whispering campaign" begin - as if it hasn't started already.
_________________
Hammering out of existence incorrect technology would include $cientology itself!

[Benny's Friend]

Please, folks. Us wogs are doing everything we can do help you. Please look deep and see if this isn't the time for you to step up to the plate.
_________________
My top issues with Scientology: human rights abuses including the SP Hole, RPF, forced abortions and forced divorces, Fair Game, PTS/SP, disconnection, Jeff Stone, and all the lies the Church of Scientology tells its own members.

[Another Surfer]

To those who toiled for scientology and its many front groups:

The employment laws are required to be posted in your place of employment.

Were they?

If not, ask yourselves -- why weren't they?

Is it normal to require 100 hour work weeks? No day off? Requirements to find a replacement placed on YOU and not the employer?

What kind of "religion" would require you to work as a slave? What kind of religion would require you to give up everything -- your health, your sweet life on this earth -- your family, your loved ones -- in the pursuit of... what? Freeing a planet at the personal cost of each one freed at 350,000 dollars?

I still don't understand -- if saving all the souls on earth is THE MISSION for scientologists, why does it cost SO MUCH? There is no way that more than maybe 2 percent of earth's population could be saved at that price.

Well, and I guess you could try being a slave to scientology and get your salvation that way. But from what I have read, most Sea Org slaves never have time for the auditing and study required to be saved.

Another Surfer

[SME]