let justice roll

a job should keep you out of poverty, not keep you in it

Concerned citizens representing the faith community, labor unions, and community organizations came to hear Rev. Paul Sherry’s invitation to raise the state minimum wage and to support an increase in the federal minimum wage on Sept. 26, at St. Paul's Cathedral. Rev. Sherry is the national campaign coordinator of Let Justice Roll, a nonpartisan program of more than 80 faith-based and community-based organizations, working in support of federal legislation to raise the federal minimum wage as well as state legislation and ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage in selected states. Rev. Sherry is also a former national president of the United Church of Christ. His visit was sponsored by the UCC and other area organizations and churches.   

“A job should keep you out of poverty, not keep you in it. That’s the bottom line” said Sherry at the public event held at St. Paul’s. “There is nothing but a lack of social vision to prevent paying an adequate wage to workers.”    

Following Dr. Sherry’s presentation the 75 attendees engaged in a group dialogue.  The recently failed initiative petition was discussed as were lessons learned. From the discussion it became clear raising the minimum wage will take a strong, state-wide coalition made up of faith, community, and labor leaders willing to devote significant time and resources. 

A coalition to address this issue is being formed. Of course, if Congress passes an increase in the federal minimum wage, a local effort may not be necessary. Let Justice Roll may well be able to provide support once a coalition is formed. If you are interested in participating but were unable to attend the event, contact Karen Spradlin at karen.spradlin@sbcglobal.net. 

kansas/oklahoma conference of ucc passes fair wage resolution

At the annual conference in Manhattan, Kan., on Sept. 30, the Peace and Justice Task Force submitted a resolution calling for: All churches in the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference to adopt living wages for our own employees, and for all churches to be a part of the national effort to raise the federal minimum wage as well as to be involved in raising local and state wages to a moral standard. The resolution passed with only a few nays. Mayflower is already in compliance with the resolution as we currently pay all employees above the standards outlined in number one resolution. 

The 45th meeting of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, UCC, resolves:

1.  To work toward providing a living wage for all church employees within the next three years. (The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has set the 2006 poverty threshold for a family of four as $20,000 per year. An annual living wage in 2006 would approximate this figure.)

2.  To join with the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries in their endorsement of Let Justice Roll, working both in support of federal legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to not less than $7.25 per hour and in support of state legislation and ballot initiatives to increase local and state minimum wages.

3.  Annually to request the Peace and Justice Task Force survey all churches and the conference office to assess what changes, if any have been implemented.