Praying for Walmart Workers
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Your Faith WORKS Newsletter of Interfaith Worker Justice Summer 2015 Praying for Walmart Workers hank you for continuing to agers and executives have the capac- stand by, and with, Walmart ity for compassion, and we pray (and Tworkers who are courageously push) they experience a conversion fighting for their right to a living of heart. wage and to be treated with respect Your prayers (and support) are and dignity at work. needed now more than ever. On In early June, hundreds of indi- April 13, Walmart suddenly shut viduals shared prayers of support, down five stores in Texas, California, hope and encouragement as Walmart Florida and Oklahoma – leaving workers and their allies travelled to 2,200 workers shocked and unem- Bentonville, Ark. for the company’s ployed. On April 20, employees from annual shareholder meeting. the Pico Rivera, Calif. store filed a The presence of OUR Walmart complaint with the National Labor leaders in Bentonville blanketed the Relations Board charging “Walmart’s massive gathering of Walmart execu- action was intended to target the tives and shareholders with a spirit of Pico Rivera store, which has been the accountability and responsibility to focal point of activity by Associates those on whose backs the company’s for better working conditions.” profits are built. We won’t let big corporations Earlier this year, OUR Walmart bully workers who are leading the Thank you for sending your prayers… leaders successfully pushed Walmart fight for respect and dignity at work. • May we all learn to share so that all have enough. to begin addressing its immorally low The struggle continues until these • Thank you, compassionate God, for the courage and vision of the Walmart pay and bump workers wages up – a workers are reinstated and their cries workers and may their integrity touch the hearts of the shareholders. small bit. Without guarantee of hours for justice are heard. • May God open the hearts of the Walton Family to see that they, and all of though, the proposed increase falls As corporate executives and us, are called to build a just world here and now. May all Walmart workers short of what workers need to pro- wealthy shareholders celebrate the feel supported in their struggle for justice. vide decent lives for themselves and “successes” this past year, let us pray • My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to all Walmart workers and their their families. They deserve pay that for – and act with – courage as we families. We are all an American family and when one of our family mem- honors their human dignity: $15 an stand with the thousands of Walmart bers suffers, we all suffer. Keep the faith. hour and full-time, consistent hours. workers who are on the front lines of • May the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Walmart remember We truly believe Walmart man- the struggle for dignity and respect. that whatever they do to workers, they do to God. Labor Day Reflections on Work, Dignity and Human Life By Bishop Howard Hubbard Because work is so essential working men and women. Millions Behind every statistic and chart for the well being of the individual, of workers are struggling to make that seeks to define the problem lie s we approach our national the family and society, the dignity ends meet and formerly middle class individual tragedies and families try- observance of Labor Day, it is of work must be protected and the folks are now feeding their families ing to cope with unemployment and Awell to remember the impor- basic rights of workers are to be with food stamps. Income inequality poverty. Hence, our present crisis is tance of work in our lives. Faith tells respected: the right to productive has grown significantly in the last 30 a moral as well as an economic one us that work is more than a way to work, to a decent and fair wage, to years, which has led researchers to and must be addressed as such. May make a living; it is a form of contem- safe working conditions, to organize conclude that the United States is the Labor Day prompt us to do so. porary participation in God’s plan of and join unions, to private property most economically unequal country salvation and of being co-creators and to economic initiative. in the advanced world. There is also The Most Rev. Howard Hubbard is with God in bringing the world to its Labor Day 2015 shows some the problem of wage theft. the retired bishop of the Catholic fulfillment. It is a means of growing, gains throughout the last few years: Unfortunately, far too often, the Diocese of Albany. He currently sharing and enhancing one’s own more states or cities have raised the debate over economic policy tends serves on the board of Interfaith life and that of one’s family and the minimum wage and passed laws to neglect the human, social and Worker Justice and co-chairs the NY wider community. granting workers paid sick time. moral dimensions of economic life, State Labor Religion Coalition. However, the situation contin- and that is why the formulation and Interfaith ues to remain dire for far too many implementation of solutions to our This Labor Day let us lift up the economic woes cannot be left solely dignity and intrinsic value of to the technicians, special interest working people by bearing witness /interfaithworkerjustice groups and market forces. For what to the struggle for a living wage and is at stake is not really economic for dignity and respect on the job. Worker Justice Take part in this year’s Worker in @iwjnational theories or political programs, but 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., 4th Fl. human life. the Pulpits. To learn how, visit www. Chicago, IL 60660 iwj.org or email [email protected]. (773) 728-8400 • www.iwj.org /iwjnational IWJ Board President: The Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry The Pope and Human Dignity Vice-President: Bishop Howard Hubbard* The dignity of the By Adam DeRose people everyday. When Board Development Chair: Ms. Kathy Saile human person Communications Chair: Mr. Naeem Baig n September, Pope Francis is set to the Pope calls out the sins of Capitalism, he and the common Finance Chair: Mr. John Howard Ivisit the U.S. to address Congress good rank higher Fundraising Chair: Mr. Jules Bernstein and the United Nations ahead of the does so in an effort Organizing Chair: The Rev. Troy Jackson World Meeting of Families in Phila- to challenge a system than the comfort Dr. Charles Amjad-Ali delphia. At IWJ, we’re thrilled the that creates dispar- of those who refuse Mr. Patrick Carolan Pope is coming, and we think it’s an ity between the rich to renounce their and the poor, and by Rabbi Laurie Coskey important time to amplify his repeat- privileges. When these Mr. Phil Cubeta consequence creates a ed calls to honor human dignity… values are threatened, a Fr. Anthony Cutcher for all of God’s children. “throw-away culture.” The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel Pope Francis’ unabashed regard He reminds us that prophetic voice must be raised. Imam Taha Hassane when we advocate – Pope Francis for human dignity and unapologetic Haring CNS photo/Paul The Rev. John Franklin Hay against austerity or Mr. John Hill disdain for the forces that hinder our fight for a living wage, we’re taking Adam is IWJ’s online organizer. During Rabbi Jill Jacobs ability to thrive on God’s good Earth the last three (-plus!) years, he has Ms. Colleen Kilbride down the barriers to a quality of life have been a breath of fresh air and worked tirelessly to motivate and engage Mr. Jeff Korgen that gives dignity and hope to all. a welcome recalibration of our soci- people in the work, through his posts The Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston As we look forward to the Papal ety’s moral compass. and writings on the IWJ website, Twitter, Ms. Susan Leslie visit, I invite you to continue lifting The Pope’s love for humanity is Facebook and other online platforms. The Rev. Michael Livingston especially apparent in all his declara- up the dignity inherent in all people In July, Adam will move on to pursue Dr. Joseph A. McCartin and take special care to advocate for graduate studies at Arizona State Mr. Ralph McCloud tions relating to economic inequality economic and worker policies that University. We are grateful for all that The Rev. Doug Mork and the challenges facing working allow us all to live well. he’s done for IWJ and the movement. Mr. David H. Moskowitz Mr. Todd O’Malley Mr. Marcos Lucio Popovich A Field of Hope The Rev. Frank Raines III The Hand that Feeds: Ms. Edith Rasell Mr. Fred Redmond Real to Reel Victory and Courage Rabbi Elizabeth Richman e are really excited to partner with Jubilee Films – the production ur friends at the Labor-Religion Mr. Corey Saylor company behind the critically acclaimed documentary, The Hand Coalition of New York State, The Rev. Jim Sessions W O Ms. Marilyn Sneiderman That Feeds. The film follows the courageous – and victorious – efforts of shy who have been at the center of the The Rev. Bill Somplatsky-Jarman sandwich-maker Mahoma López to organize his coworkers to fight abusive effort to raise the minimum wage in Dr. Jerry Taylor conditions at a popular New York New York, recently got huge news! The Rev. David Wildman restaurant chain. Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed Risking deportation and the loss a Wage Board that agreed fast food Special Advisors of their livelihood, Mahoma and his workers in New York needed and Bishop Jesse DeWitt* The Rev.