Day of Action to Raise the Minimum Wage set for July 24

The 99 percent need a raise, and on July 24, groups and activits will join together and call for a raise in the federal minimum wage. July 24 also marks the date when the minimum wage was last raised three years ago.

While millions struggle to live on $7.25 and hour, CEO pay has increased by 725 percent during the last 30 years. Low-wage workers aren’t benefitting from tax cuts to the rich that are supposed to trickle down. It’s time to demand an increase to minimum wage.

OUR TARGETS: We will take dramatic action to call on key targets to support raising the minimum wage. The targets include:

• Low-wage employers owned by Bain Capital, such as Dunkin Donuts, Toys-R-Us and Outback Steakhouse.
• Big national low-wage employers like Walmart, Target and McDonalds and regional low-wage employers where workers are already organizing.
• Members of Congress and presidential candidates

ACTION IDEAS: We believe actions against low-wage employers and politicians who don’t support raising the minimum wage will get news coverage—and the more real and less gimmicky the better. Here are some other things to consider:

• Our best messengers will be low-wage workers who make less than $10 an hour and community members who are sick of tax cuts for the rich that are supposed to trickle down and believe the best way to improve the economy is from the bottom up.
• Try to have low-wage workers confront politicians or management directly with their personal stories, and force them to explain why they don’t support raising the minimum wage.
• Consider the best way to “occupy” a low-wage workplace for a while.
• A champion could “walk a day” in the shoes of a minimum wage worker, or try to shop in a supermarket with the small food budget of a low-wage worker.

This is a national campaign that has just been announced recently. Please send me your ideas/plans at davidhansen44@gmail.com. Thank you.

Source: Interfaith Worker Justice

Federal Legislation You Should Know About

The following updates are provided by Faith Advocates for Jobs, a program of Interfaith Worker Justice

Transportation Bill Will Save Millions of Jobs

Before leaving Washington for the July 4th recess, Congress sent the President a major piece of legislation. The surface transportation bill will save or create millions by authorizing $120 billion in spending for federal highway, rail and transit programs for the next 27 months.

The bill does not raise the existing 18.4 cents-a-gallon gasoline tax or the 24.4 cents-a-gallon diesel tax, but it does allot about $19 billion in transfers from the Treasury.

The highway bill also included a student loan provision that extends the current 3.4 percent interest rate on Stafford loans for one year. The bill will be paid for by changes in pension laws and a restriction on the length of time students can get those loans.

Bring Jobs Home Act

The offshoring of jobs has spread from manufacturing to services and other sectors of our economy, devastating working families and their communities. When the Senate returns from the recess, they will consider the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2884). This bill stops tax incentives for companies outsourcing jobs and provide tax credits to those that return jobs to the United States. Call you Senator at 888-659-9401. Tell them to pass the Bring Jobs Home Act (S. 2884).

Unemployment Insurance

According to a new report from National Employment Law Project (NELP), American workers who lose their jobs after July 4 will only have access to jobless aid provided by their states—26 weeks in most cases. They will not be eligible for any federal unemployment support if they run out of state benefits before finding new work.

With all federal unemployment insurance programs scheduled to expire by year’s end, more than 900,000 Americans will exhaust their state benefits during the first three months of 2013 and will be left without any jobless aid. More than two million Americans already receiving federal extended unemployment insurance will face immediate cut-off from the program between Christmas and the new year.

Long-term unemployment remains at near-record levels, fueling concerns that the federal programs are being terminated prematurely. The average unemployed worker is jobless for around 40 weeks—far longer than the 26 weeks of jobless aid offered by most states. Nearly half of all workers who receive state unemployment insurance (47.9 percent) run out of benefits without finding employment.

It takes on average nine months for unemployed workers to find a job. Unless Congress reauthorizes the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, unemployed workers will face an average of three months of joblessness without any benefits.

An Open Letter Calling for Jubilee at Walmart

Walmart is celebrating its 50-year anniversary this year, and people of faith are calling for Jubilee at Walmart. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, Jubilee mandates the freeing of slaves, cancelling of debts and redistribution of resources every 50 years to limit inequality.

Walmart is the glaring example of inequality. For 50 years it helped legitimize an economy that benefits a few at the expense of working people.

Click here to sign the Open Letter calling for Jubilee at Walmart.

As Walmart claims to celebrate and honor values like "hard-work," "entrepreneurship," and "the American dream," the majority of its 1.4 million workers still earn poverty wages with very limited access to insurance and benefits.

It's time for Walmart to redistribute wealth at the top by providing living wages and better treatment to workers. It's time for a Jubilee at Walmart! 

This Open Letter will be delivered to the company at its annual shareholders' meeting on June 1, 2012.

source: Kim Bobo
National Director
Interfaith Worker Justice 

Stand with Wichita Firefighters IAFF Local 135

No confidence in Wichita Fire Chief

Last month, the Wichita Firefighters IAFF Local 135 polled their members, and 94% of the firefighters stated that they have no confidence in the leadership abilities of their Fire Chief, Ron Blackwell. Also, 97% of them approved a vote of no confidence for Deputy Chief Ron Aaron and Division Chief Billy Wenzel.

Issues with the Fire Administration have been multiplying over the past few years, as the Wichita Fire Administration has violated its Memorandum of Agreement with IAFF on multiple occasions. Other issues include giving significant raises to select members of his key staff, during a time where units were taken out of service due to alleged lack of funding.  Removing Training Officers and creating civilian positions that are inconsistent with the best interests of Citizen Safety, making numerous decisions against the direction of the City Manager and City Council, making serious errors in the promotional process, and having misplaced budget priorities.

Stand with Wichita's firefighters! Contact members of the City Council. Let your representative represent you.

Mayor Carl Brewer, CBrewer@wichita.gov

District I,  Lavonta Williams, LKWilliams@wichita.gov

District II, Pete Meitzner,  PMeitzner@wichita.gov

District III, James Clendenin, JClendenin@wichita.gov

District IV, Michael ODonnell, MODonnell@wichita.gov

District V, Jeff Longwell, JLongwell@wichita.gov

District VI Janet Miller, JLMiller@wichita.gov

Thank you for standing with the firefighters of IAFF local 135!

Source: AFL-CIO Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation

Join a National Call on Jobs and the Economy

On Thursday, May 10, at 3:00 CST, Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Jen Kern of the National Employment Law Project will host a nation-wide conversation on the Rebuild America Act. They will discuss Senator Harkin's plan to get America back to work and rebuild our economy. They will take questions..

 "This is exactly the kind of bill that creates a vision for the future and stimulates conversations about how the government can serve the common good," said Kim Bobo, Executive Director of IWJ.

Join the conversation with Sen. Harkin 5.10.12 @ 3:00 p.m. CST (760) 569-0111 Access Code: 1085004#

Source: Faith Advocates for Jobs

Workers Memorial Day April 19, 2012

Let me first thank all those who participated in the April 4, 2012 service honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I thought we would be able to post a video of this outstanding event but the person who offered to provide this service experienced technical difficulties and was unable to record it. It is lost opportunity. We do have an audio recording, which I will edit and post. We may be able to get transcripts of some of the presentations. I will post my own written review soon.

As a representative of IWJ Kansas I have the honor of being invited to participate in a Workers Memorial Day Event, April 19th. I would like to encourage faith communities to remember workers killed or injured on the job and their families in your worship on April 20, 21 or 22. "A Prayer for the Fallen" written by Reverend Ian Lawton, which will be included in the service on the 19th, is included below.

Forty years ago in April the OSHA law and mine safety law were enacted promising workers in this country the right to a safe job. All over the country--in town squares and union halls, at worksites and memorials, in community after community--people gather to remember our sisters and brothers who have lost their lives and to fight for safe workplaces and for good jobs for all workers. Please share in this sacred time.

A Prayer for the Fallen by Reverend Ian Lawton

We remember those we have lost with great fondness.
They gave much to the world; as individuals, family members, friends and work colleagues.
We remember their families in their enormous sadness.
For those who have died at work building a better place for the rest of us.
Those who have died while constructing our buildings and expressways, hospitals and schools.
For those who have died young and innocent, victims of avoidable accidents.
May we learn from this loss, honour the memory of those lost
And work towards a safer workplace for all people
Where the rights and dignity of all workers are upheld above all else.

HB 2437 Hearing--Voter Suppression--March 15

House Bill 2437 will receive a hearing in the Ethics and Elections Committee on Thursday March 15th. This bill will force Kansans to provide proof of citizenship documents before being allowed to register to vote starting in June. This hearing is a decisive moment in the fight against voter suppression. Use the three steps listed below to do your part in stopping this bill!

This bill poses major problems for our state this election year.

• Grassroots voter registration including tabling at community gatherings, registering the elderly and disabled at care homes, and door-to-door registration will be impossible.

• Voting for all Kansans will be more difficult. Those facing the greatest challenges are low income Kansans, women, and the elderly.
  
• The administrative failures of voter ID at the DMV, KDHE, and the voting booths indicate that our state is not ready more restrictions. Rushing in to more stringent voting restrictions will distract officials from correcting the existing problems and invite additional complications. 

Take 3 simple steps to stop this bill

1.      Contact your area senator on the Ethics and Elections Committee RIGHT NOW!

A simple message of “My name is _________, and I am against rushing proof of citizenship for voter registration” would be a great contributing to defending voter rights.

Call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924  and ask to speak with your area senator on the Ethics and Elections committee or email your area senator directly using the contact below

• Senator Terrie Huntington, Fairway/Topeka area. Terrie.Huntington@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Vickie Schmidt, Topeka area. Vicki.Schmidt@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau, Wichita area, Oletha.Faust-Goudeau@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Pat Apple, Louisburg area, Pat.Apple@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Pete Brundgart, Salina area, Pete.Brungardt@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Dick Kelsey, Goddard area, Dick.Kelsey@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Kelly Kultala, Kansas City area, Kelly.Kultala@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Mike Peterson, Wichita area, Mike.Petersen@senate.ks.gov
• Senator Roger Reitz, Manhattan area, Roger.Reitz@senate.ks.gov

 2. Testify

• To testify in person: Join Kansans from around the state in testifying next Thursday. The hearing will be held at 9:30 am in room 159-S in the capital which is located at 900 SW Jackson St, Topeka, KS. Contact Ellen Martinez, assistant to the Ethics and Elections Committee at 785-296-8621 and request time to speak. She will ask that you submit 30 copies of your testimony to her by noon the day before the hearing. Her email address is ellen.martinez@senate.ks.gov. Representative Ann Mah has offered to print copies of our testimonies and deliver them to Ms. Martinez. Send your testimonies to be copied at ann.mah@house.ks.gov.

• To submit written testimony: If you cannot attend the hearing you can submit written testimony. Email your written testimony to Ellen Martinez at ellen.martinez@senate.ks.gov requesting that it be included in Thursday’s hearing. Email Representative Ann Mah at ann.mah@house.ks.gov and request that copies be made for the committee.

• Confirm your participation here http://www.facebook.com/events/203148619786893/.

3. Spread the Word

• Forward this email to each of your contacts and ask that they do their part to defend voter rights in Kansas.
• Invite your friends to sign this online petition: http://signon.org/sign/prevent-the-rushed-implement.
• Become a part of the movement and stay up to date on all of the latest news on voter suppression by liking KanVote on Facebook.

Budgets are Moral Documents

The Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs reminds us that state and federal budgets are moral documents. In "Faith Reflections on the Federal Budget" they identify three core values for analysis of budget priorities:

1. Meet the needs of the most vulnerable. We must invest in programs that allow families to survive the recession and live in dignity by adequately funding social service programs that meet basic human needs and protect basic rights.

2. Create economic opportunity for all. We must invest in programs that address the underlying causes of poverty by adequately funding high quality education, sustainable jobs and living wages.

3. Demonstrate intergenerational responsibility. Leaving a legacy of rising debt, rising poverty and diminished opportunity is unacceptable. Adequate housing, access to health care and good nutrition are basic human rights.

Proverbs 31: 8-9 urge us to "open your mouth"--speak up and speak out. Budgets are moral documents.

For more information on the Domestic Human Needs budget visit this website:

http://www.iwj.org/budgets-are-moral-documents/a-faith-reflection-on-the-federal-budget

Turnaround Week for KS Legislature

The other night, February 27th, I attended a legislative listening session in Derby with some friends. Members of the Kansas House and Senate came to listen to their constituents talk about the things of concern. More than a dozen members of the legislature were there and the large meeting room in the Derby City Hall was full. The meeting began promptly at 7:00 and ended at 8:30. Each speaker was given three minutes to present their concern. Twenty-four people spoke.

A number of the speakers voiced concern about the influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in the Kansas legislative chambers and the statehouse. According to one speaker 46 members of the House and Senate have ties to ALEC, a corporate organization that drafts legislation favorable to corporate interests. It is well known that some members of the administration work closely with ALEC. We are all encouraged to ask our representatives if they have ties with ALEC, and what if any legislation they have sponsored that was written with the help of ALEC. Transparency and accountability are good things to have in a democracy.

A number of people voiced concern about proposed changes in community health care and assurances that legislation to maintain these services and improve them was given by a number of the legislators present.

Speakers also voiced concern about proposed changes in funding for education. Those who spoke said plainly that the proposed legislation is taking us “down the wrong path.” No one spoke in favor of the proposed changes.

Support was expressed for passage of Senate Bill 219, which would make wage theft a crime punishable by stiff penalties. The KS Department of Labor documents 1,800 cases of wage theft, resulting in a loss of $10 million in wages.

People spoke in opposition to House Bill 2531, which changes the both the number and the composition of members on the worker’s compensation and unemployment appeals panel. And there was opposition to the proposal to change the voter registration law, which is called the voter suppression law by its opponents.

You can read about all this legislation and find out more details at the Working Kansans Alliance website. This is Turnaround Week in the Kansas Legislature, marking the halfway point in the session. Representatives and Senators at the meeting agreed that email is effect but the best way to get their attention and voice your concern is a phone call.

A Call for Action on Pending Legislation

The Working Kansans Alliance (www.wokingkansans.com/take-action/) is calling for action on the following legislative bills. Check out the website, read about the legislation, contact your representatives and let them hear from you. It is important. You can help protect workers and their families.The voice of the faith community is needed. Your voice will make a difference. Votes will be taken soon so there is no time to lose. Thank you.

HB2515 the "Competitive Protection Act" would prohibit the use of protected labor agreements in Kansas and outsource jobs.

HB2531 changes the composition and selection process for the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board judges and Employment Review Board members. Currently there is a balanced process with equal representation from labor and business. The proposed change enlarges the nominating committee from 2 to 7 members with 5 coming from business and two from labor. Keep the balance which has been in place since 1993.

HB2130 would prohibit the use of union dues deductions for political activities, effectively silencing the voice of labor. The Chair of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee refused to bring the bill up for a hearing in the committee. This bill, and a similar bill, HB 2581, are in the House.

HB 2592 would prohibit any unit of local government to enact ordinances, programs or eco devo projects which require employers to pay prevailing wages or offer paid leave or benefits other than those required by the state.

SB 352 changes the Employment Security Law which governs unemployment compensation. Workers would be ineligible for unemployment insurance unless they were part of a direct lay off.

SB 355 deletes language in the Wage Payment Act that requires the Secretary of Labor to appeal wage payment decisions on behalf of the employee if the payment is under $10,000.

Support for SB219 the Wage Payment Act

Interfaith Worker Justice and Sunflower Community Action are asking you to join in urging passage of Senate Bill 219, the “Wage Payment Act” and stop wage theft in Kansas.

Wage theft is the illegal underpayment or nonpayment of wages. It forces workers to make tough choices because of illegally reduced wages. It robs the government of tax-generated revenue. It puts ethical employers at a disadvantage. The Economic Policy Foundation estimates that the national cost of wage theft is $19 billion annually.

If you want to have a congregational study on wage theft study material is available at wagetheft.org, or on this website. Guadalupe or Rev. Hansen would be happy to visit with you about wage theft. Call 316-264-9972 ext. 23 for Guadalupe Magdeleno, or 316-612-6910 for Rev. Hansen.

We are asking you to cut, paste and sign the attached letter with your name and address and send it to Guadalupe Magdeleno, Lupe@sunfloweract.org, Sunflower Community Action, or to Reverend David Hansen, davidhansen44@gmail.com. We will take the signed letters to Topeka on February 15, 2011.

In advance, thank you for your support of this important legislation.



Dear Senator,


I am writing to urge passage of SB 219, the Wage Payment Act. Stop wage theft in Kansas.

Wage theft, the underpayment or nonpayment of wages, forces workers to ma It forces workers to make tough choices because of illegally reduced wages. It robs the government of tax-generated revenue. It puts ethical employers at a disadvantage.

Our faith tradition teaches us people should be paid honest wages for honest work. It is wrong to steal; it is right to treat each person with respect. We urge passage of SB 219.

Please vote for this important legislation.

Thank you.


Sincerely,

(Your name)

Legislating for Worker Justice and Fairness

The legislature is in session. I have collected some data and links that will be useful to everyone interested in worker justice and fairness. I ask you to share the information widely and thank the sources cited for their good work. Please contact me if IWJ can be of assistance to you or your faith community.


Federal Legislation

HR 3630 is titled the “Job Creation Incentive Act” and is also called the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act.” The bill has four major subsections. Subtitle B deals with “Unemployment Compensation.” If the bill becomes law it will hit those who need it most the hardest, and states with the highest unemployment will suffer the most. IWJ encourages you to contact your representatives and urge them to defeat this proposed legislation and to call for the renewal of unemployment benefits with no cuts and no barriers. Here are a few items I pulled from the bill as I read it on line (go to House Resolution 3630 and scan down to Subtitle B).

• Section 2122 requires jobless workers without a high school education or a GED to pursue a degree unless they get a state waiver. It may seem reasonable but it means that workers without a high school degree or a GED could be denied benefits.
• Section 2125 allows for mandatory drug testing of recipients of unemployment insurance. It is not a crime to be unemployed. The mandate implies guilt and stigmatizes jobless workers.
• Section 2142, the “Extension and Modification of Emergency Unemployment Compensation” actually reduces the compensation period from the present 53 weeks to 33 weeks in most cases.
• Section 2162 requires jobless workers to participate in re-employment services and allows states to make them pay for the service.

You can find out more at UnemployedWorkers.org. Call 888-245-3381 to let your representative know you support renewing unemployment insurance with no cuts and no barriers.


Kansas Legislation

HB 2437 “Voter Repression” bill will be considered by the Kansas House Elections Committee on Monday, Friday 6th at 9 a.m. in room 5465 in the capitol. This is the Voter Registration bill, which is also known as the Voter Suppression Act. Notice was sent out too late for me to get it posted so that you could submit written testimony. If you are able to attend the hearing contact Louis Goseland, Director of Organizing at Sunflower Community Action, 316-264-9972, or Louis@Sunfloweract.org.

The Kansas League of Women Voters is hosting a “League Day” on February 15th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Kansas Bar Association, 1200 SW Harrison, Topeka. The session will discuss bills dealing with taxes, voting, school finance, health care, women’s choice and immigration. If you are attending let the League know and contact your legislator and let her or him know you are attending this event and would like to meet.

Kansans United in Voice and Spirit will also be holding a rally in Topeka on February 15th. Type the name into your search engine for details.

Governor Brownback’s Tax Plan: check out the site for the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (www.itepnet.org; itep@itepnet.org). They have released their analysis of the governor’s proposed budget and it is not pretty—unless you are in the top income brackets. According to their analysis people earning under $20,000 will pay an increase of $209; wage-earners with incomes between $20-35,000 will pay $246 more; Kansans with incomes between $35 and 57,000 will pay $146 more; and those with incomes between $57 and 90,000 will pay $14 more. Those with incomes between $90 and 165,000 get a tax break of $244; incomes between $165 and 400,000 enjoy a $2,054 reduction; and over $400,000 benefit with a $16,993 reduction in state taxes. Adding to taxpayer woes, the proposed budget does not allow taxpayers to deduct state income taxes on your federal return—meaning higher federal taxes for all.

The League of Women Voters notes that there is not a single requirement in the tax plan to create jobs. It will reduce the income of lower and middle income families, cost the state money to the tune of $90 million dollars next year, and reduce the ability of the state to make job-creating investments.