wfn.org | Faith and Community Groups Support 2005 Fair Minimum Wage Act

["NCC news" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leslie Tune, (202) 544-2350

'Let Justice Roll' Campaign Announces Support of 2005 Fair Minimum Wage Act

Washington, D.C., May 20, 2005--Organizers of the "Let Justice Roll: Faith
and Community Voices Against Poverty" campaign, including the National
Council of Churches USA and the Center for Community Change, today announced
its support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2005, which was introduced in the
U.S. Senate and House on Wednesday, May 18 by Senator Edward Kennedy and Rep.
George Miller, respectively. If it passes, the legislation, which calls for
an increase in the federal minimum wage from $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour over
two years, would be one step toward alleviating the increasing numbers of
people who live in poverty in this country.

"This legislation is so important because of the severe needs that poor
working people have," said Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry, the coordinator of the "Let
Justice Roll/Living Wage" campaign. "We will work through communities of
faith and community groups to urge Congress to pass this legislation without
delay."

The "Let Justice Roll/Living Wage" campaign is working to raise the minimum
wage at both the federal and state levels. Meeting in Washington, D.C. today
the Steering Committee of the campaign noted its vigorous support for the new
legislation even as plans were being made to launch a national effort on this
issue.

The "Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty" campaign
began last year to organize voter registration efforts for the 2004
elections. In a 15-city tour, the partner organizations of the campaign
registered about 100,000 new voters. The campaign is now committed to
concentrate efforts in two areas: living wage and budget and tax fairness. 

Faith and community groups are concerned about the increasing number of
workers paid poverty wages in this nation. Since the last minimum wage
increase was passed in 1997, the value has eroded by more than 15 percent.
Consequently, to have the purchasing power it had in 1968, for example, the
minimum wage would have to be $8.90/hour, $3.75 more than it is today.

More than 40 faith and community organizations are sponsoring the "Let
Justice Roll/Living Wage" campaign (see full list below) to shape ongoing
educational efforts to inform people about the severity of conditions facing
low wage working people and what must be done to bring about constructive
change.

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"Let Justice Roll/Living Wage" Campaign Sponsors

ACORN
African American Ministers Leadership Council (People for the American Way)
American Friends Service Committee
Arizona Ecumenical Council
California Church Impact
Center for American Progress
Center for Community Change
Cleveland ACORN
Dunk the Vote
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Families United for Racial Economic Equalityâ??FUREE
Interfaith Worker Justice
Just Harvest
Kansas Ecumenical Ministries
Kentucky Council of Churches
Lehigh Valley Interfaith Mobilization
Let Justice Rollâ??Rochester
Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey
Minnesota Council of Churches
Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
National Council of Churches USA
New Mexico Conference of Churches
North Carolina Council of Churches
Ohio Council of Churches
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Philadelphia Unemployment Project
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Progressive Christians Uniting
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Protestants for the Common Good
Social Concerns Network at Candler School of Theology
South Carolina Peopleâ??s Agenda
Southern California Ecumenical Council
The Episcopal Church USA
The Interfaith Alliance
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Voices of the Electors (V.O.T.E.)
Washington Association of Churches
Welfare Engine
WHALE Center
Wisconsin Council of Churches