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Mid-South Interfaith Network Victories
In partnership with local unions, community
organizations, and faith
bodies,
Workers Interfaith Network has helped bring about
the following victories with
low-wage workers:
Passing a Living Wage for County
Workers and Workers on County Contracts
On May 21st, 2007, the Shelby County Commission followed the example of the
Memphis City Council by
passing a living wage ordinance
that brings county
workers and workers employed on county contracts up to a wage of $10 per hour
with insurance or $12 without insurance. The ordinance also includes an annual
cost of living increase so that workers' wages won't fall behind.
Congress Passes First Minimum Wage
Increase in a Decade
After months of delay and tying
minimum wage legislation to controversial war
and tax legislation,
the federal
minimum wage will finally begin to increase in July 2007.
Passing a Living Wage for Workers on City
Contracts and
at Companies Receiving Tax Freezes
Workers Interfaith Network's three year living wage campaign
culminated
in the City Council passing our living wage
ordinance on November 21st, 2006.
The living wage ordinance
guarantees a living wage to
workers on
city service contracts.
In October, the
Council also passed new requirements for the city's PILOT
property tax freeze program, including requiring companies that get
new PILOTs to pay living wages and provide health insurance benefits.
Winning a 30% Pay Increase with
Low Wage Workers at Vanderbilt
In coalition with the many Middle Tennessee faith, labor, and community
partners,
Workers Interfaith Network has been pushing Vanderbilt University to raise
their
workers up to a living wage. In March 2007, 600 Vanderbilt workers won a
contract
that took a big step toward the living wage by bargaining
a new union
contract that
raised the lowest paid workers' wages by 30%.
Protecting Quality Benefits and
Working Conditions at Medegen
Fayette County clergy
and other people of faith organized to help workers at the
Medegen medical parts plant
win a fair contract after the company
demanded cuts
from workers and exhausting 12 hour shifts.
Winning a Fair Contract for Fred's
Warehouse Workers
In 2005,
Fred’s warehouse workers signed a union contract after more than
3 years of struggle for dignity and justice on the job. Workers Interfaith
Network stood with Fred’s workers and
their union UNITE-HERE as together
they defended their rights. The
combination of workers’ determination and
the faithful witness of
Workers Interfaith Network won a contract which
includes a pay raise,
reduced health care costs, and a seniority and
grievance system which
will stop Fred’s previous practices of discrimination
and favoritism.
Stopping the State
Legislature from Passing a Ban on the Living Wage
Activism by Workers Interfaith Network and others during 2004 and 2005
legislative sessions
of the Tennessee General Assembly prevented anti-living
wage forces
from passing a bill that would ban Memphis and other local
governments
from being able to raise wages for workers. Thanks in large
part to our
members, Memphis was
still free to adopt the
living wage ordinance, as
well as other measures to improve wages for Mid-South workers.
Challenging the PictSweet company
to end to workplace abuses
at their California mushroom farm.
Beginning in 2002, Workers Interfaith
Network assisted the PictSweet workers
organizing with the
United Farm Workers
by holding prayer vigils at the company’s national
headquarters in Bells, TN,
as well as meeting with grocery store managers
who sell PictSweet products.
After more than a decade of struggle, the
workers finally won a contract that
includes full family health care, a
significant pay raise, and better safety procedures.
Read the Jackson Sun article about the prayer vigil(12-11-02)
The
future victories we can win with Mid-South workers depend on
people just
like you!
Become a member of Workers
Interfaith Network or make a special gift today.
Take action on the Living
Wage Campaign.
Take action on our Worker
Rights Campaigns.
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