Reverend J. Herbert Nelson Joins Workers and Faith Leaders in Demanding Better Jobs for Federal Workers
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms
by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them
their wages.
-- Jeremiah 22:13
WASHINGTON -- The Reverend J. Herbert Nelson, Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) Director for Public Witness, this morning joined with workers and
other leaders in the faith community, including Presbyterian minister Reverend Michael
Livingston of Interfaith Worker Justice and
Reverend Sèkinah
Hamlin of the Ecumenical Poverty
Initiative (formerly NCC Poverty Initiative), in an action of nonviolent
civil disobedience to urge President Obama to improve jobs for millions of
workers. Together, workers and faith leaders asked the President to sign a Good
Jobs Executive Order that will ensure that the federal government only does
business with companies that pay a living wage and provide good benefits, follow
wage, hour, and safety laws, allow workers to bargain collectively, and limit
overspending on CEO pay.
Of his commitment to get arrested as part of the nonviolent
action, Rev. Nelson said, “In the church, we believe in the inherent
dignity of work and that God has called each of us to a vocation. Workers have
a right to be compensated for their work with a fair wage that provides a
living. One of the best ways to improve jobs is to give workers the leverage to
organize for better pay, working conditions, and benefits. We have allowed
greed to perpetuate a class of working poor in this country, even though there
is easily enough for everyone to have what we each need. Worker pay has
stagnated while productivity and wealth have skyrocketed. This is our shared
failure and it is a sin.”
Today’s action focuses on our shared conviction that God has
provided enough for everyone. Rev. Nelson and other faith leaders, together
with workers, surrounded a common table with shared bread for all. Clergy and
workers then shared the bread among the crowd. Nelson concluded, “We
believe God has provided enough, and workers’ wages and compensation should
reflect that reality. We need executive action from the White House that will
set a federal precedent in the marketplace to strengthen jobs, workers, and
their families. A job should keep you
out of poverty, not trap you in it.”
This action follows up on the interreligious community’s
successful campaign work with Good Jobs
Nation that urged the President to sign an executive order requiring a
minimum wage of $10.10 per hour for workers under new federal contracts. In
February 2014, President Obama signed the $10.10 executive order, which is a
good start to restoring the quality of jobs in the U.S., but it is only enough
to bring a family of four just above the poverty line. Workers need living
wages to support their families and the leverage to bargain collectively for
fair pay and working conditions. With
the stroke of a pen, the President can ensure that all federal contract workers
receive fair and just compensation.
Of the action, the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson said, “In our capitalist society, payday is always
a good day. There is a sense of pride in earning a living and having the means
to build a better life. For those of us
who take a paycheck for granted, let us be reminded and in solidarity with
those persons who, after receiving their paychecks, still cannot meet their
basic needs, including food, housing, health and child care, much less a family
outing for dinner or a Friday-night movie. Let us not forget the father or
mother in despair, because there is never enough to make ends meet, even after
working multiple jobs or overtime.”
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More information will be made available through the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness
blog and Facebook page
in the hours and weeks ahead.
The Reverend J. Herbert Nelson is the Director for Public Witness at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness in Washington, DC.
