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News :: Miscellaneous |
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The Interfaith Alliance Joins Campaign To Increase Minimum Wage |
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by The Interfaith Alliance
(No verified email address) |
14 Jun 2001
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WASHINGTON - June 13 - "If we are truly a compassionate nation, we must begin facing the reality that our economic policies do not address the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots." -- Rev. Welton Gaddy |
In the interest of justice and fairness, President George W. Bush and members of Congress have a moral obligation to increase the minimum wage to address the struggles of the working poor in our nation, according to The Interfaith Alliance (TIA). This afternoon, the nation's largest interfaith political advocacy organization joined a coalition of religious, civic and labor leaders calling for a $1.50 increase in the federal minimum wage.
"If we strive to be a fair and just society, then we have a moral obligation to address the appalling gap between the haves and have-nots in our nation," said the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of TIA. "Albeit modest, a $1.50 raise will begin addressing the crisis facing the working poor in our nation.
"I've heard our president speak about the compassion for the poor in terms of charity, but I wonder, is there a similar commitment to creating compassionate and just economic policies that close the gap between rich and poor?"
The coalition effort, organized by the National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support, released a letter to President Bush and members of Congress calling for "a much-needed boost to 11 million hard-working Americans."
An excerpt from the letter states: "The issue is one of basic human rights and economic fairness and should transcend party lines. However, we are gravely concerned by reports that some in Congress will propose an even smaller increase of only $1.00 over three years, as well as amendments that would compromise the 40-hour work week and strip overtime pay from millions of workers. We are most disturbed by proposals that would effectively repeal the federal minimum wage law by allowing states to opt-out of any increase. We vigorously oppose these attacks on historic protections."
The letter was signed by 26 national leaders including the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of TIA; Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; and the Rev. Robert W. Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches.
Founded in 1994, The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a non-partisan clergy-led grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in the life of the nation and challenging those who manipulate religion to promote intolerance. With more than 130,000 members drawn from over 50 faith traditions, clergy-led local Alliances in 38 states, and a national network of activists in every state, TIA promotes civility, mutual respect, and cooperation in our increasingly diverse society.
For more information about The Interfaith Alliance, visit: |
See also:
http://www.interfaithalliance.org
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