[NCC News] NCC applauds volunteers' efforts on minimum wage victory
New York City, May 25, 2007--"America's poorest workers will now begin to get their overdue piece of the pie," said the Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary, National Council of Churches USA (NCC). "It's the first step in obtaining justice for a growing number of workers in this country who have been forced to work two and three jobs. That's an unbearable burden on American families."
The federal minimum wage was part of the Iraq war funding bill passed last night by both houses of Congress.
"It's a bittersweet victory that justice for workers was tied to a bill funding an unjust and immoral war but sometimes Washington works in strange ways," said the former six-term Member of Congress from Pennsylvania (1975-1987).
Edgar praised the work of the NCC-founded "Let Justice Roll" anti-poverty campaign. It has grown into a coalition of 100 religious, community and labor organizations that have worked to raise the minimum wage on the federal and state levels. Seven states now have higher minimum wages than the $7.25 an hour rate that will be the federal minimum in two years.
"I suspect Let Justice Roll will continue their state-by-state effort to raise the minimum wage to a living wage," said Edgar. "This is Biblical work at its very core. After all, the name of coalition comes right out of the Book of Amos." (Amos 5:24 "...let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." NRSV).
The NCC's interfaith electronic advocacy community, FaithfulAmerica.org, wrote its 100,000-plus members thanking them for their work on the wage bill and the House-passed ethics reform legislation.
"These actions represent a victory for our nation, for they signal a hopeful shift to a return of a government that cares about its citizens and their true moral values. Your courageous and faithful voice has offered important leadership to our leaders," wrote Vince Isner, director of FaithfulAmerica.org.
The wage legislation had stalled in Congress when both houses passed separate versions. Some insisted on tax breaks for businesses that hire minimum wage workers. That was included in the final draft inserted in the war funding bill.
"This minimum wage should be higher," said Edgar, "without tax incentives for employers. One day all these tax breaks given to subsidize businesses and the wealthiest taxpayers will come home to roost and lawmakers will be forced to end this welfare for the wealthy.
The NCC is the ecumenical voice of America's Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, historic African American and traditional peace churches. These 35 communions have 45 million faithful members in 100,000 congregations in all 50 states.
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