A Just Minimum Wage: Good For Workers, Business and Our Future Produced by the American Friends Service Committee and the National Council of Churches USA in support of the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign October 2005 ISBN 0-9771820-1-0 © 2005 by the American Friends Service Committee, the National Council of Churches USA and Holly Sklar Foreword © 2005 The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr. Design and Layout: Gerry Henry Cover design: Kristi Kent Research assistance on charts: Laryssa Mykyta Media Inquiries for Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign and A Just Minimum Wage: Rev. Leslie Tune Washington Communication Office, National Council of Churches USA 110 Maryland Ave., NE, Suite 108, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: 202-544-2350 Email:
[email protected] To Order A Just Minimum Wage Group Discounts Available Toll-Free: 800-889-5733 Fax: 513-761-3722 By Mail: Friendship Press 7820 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237 email:
[email protected] Price: $5.00 For shipping and handling, add: $5-$10 order, add $4.50; $10.01 - $25, add $5.50; $25.01 - $35, add $6.50; $35 - $100, add $7.50 Over $100, add 6.5% Add additional $2 if billing is preferred National Council of Churches USA 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 880 New York, NY 10115 www.ncccusa.org American Friends Service Committee Economic Justice Program 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 www.afsc.org Contents Foreword By The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes Jr. i Introduction 1 American Dream Reversed Work Ethic 1. Working Poorer 5 Cycle of Poverty Wages Paychecks You Can’t Live On A Daily Toll: Lost Health, Lost Lives 2.