“You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you
shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning” -- Lev. 19:13
Last week, the Reverend Dr. J Herbert Nelson was arrested in
front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., along with other faith leaders and
workers. In solidarity with the 8 million U.S. workers who are dependent upon
federal contract jobs, Rev. Dr. Nelson has called on the President to 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.
To read the Rev. J Herbert Nelson's Reflection on Work, click HERE.
The President responded.
Two days later, President Obama signed an executive order (EO) aimed at
reducing labor law violations among firms that contract with the federal
government. This order requires companies bidding for federal contracts to
disclose their recent compliance with labor and employment laws and instructs
federal agencies to consider this compliance, or lack thereof, in the process
of awarding federal contracts.
One Step Closer: Rev. J Herbert Nelson responds to President Obama's Executive Order
This is an excellent step forward and deserves
praise. And because this order applies company-wide, not only to the workers
directly employed through the contract, it has the potential to improve jobs
across the economy. But there is still more to be done. With the stroke of
a pen the president could further improve jobs for workers, federal contract workers
and across the economy. For this goal,
the Rev. Dr. J Herbert Nelson participated in a nonviolence civil
disobedience with local workers and clergy.
Click HERE to
thank President Obama and urge him take the next step and make sure the workers
have a voice in the workplace.
There are real benefits to this action. According to
Demos, allowing federally contracted workers to bargain collectively would
help put 21 million people (8 million workers and their families) on the path
to the middle class. This nation became the leading economic power of the world
when it had a strong middle class that was paid fair wages and had a strong
voice to their employer through unionization.
Federal Jobs Lead the Marketplace, writes Rev. J Herbert Nelson.
The federal government is currently the largest employer of
low-wage workers in the nation, spending $1.3 trillion on purchasing goods and
services through private companies. What’s more, the federal government has
often set the precedent of change in this country. For example, President
Lyndon Johnson’s Executive Order 11246 established racial non-discrimination in
hiring and employment by U.S. contractors, a precursor to the landmark Civil
Rights Act. President Obama too can lead
by example. As the largest employer of low-wage workers, the President is
setting precedent for the nation’s marketplace. Tell him to take justice for
workers a step farther and ensure collective bargaining rights for workers
whose wages come from taxpayers.
President Obama has acted
to protect U.S. workers. THANK him, and urge him to build on last week’s
action with the Good Jobs Executive Order.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has long invested in the
dignity of work and supported rights and protections for workers. Dating back
to the 1952 General Assembly, the Presbyterian Church urged a “…greater
emphasis upon free collective bargaining in labor- management relations,” and
that Presbyterians “…participate more actively in management organizations and
labor unions as an expression of Christian vocation….” This commitment has not
changed in the present day. The 220th General Assembly (2012) upheld
its 1952 stance when it passed A
Resolution on Workers’ Rights and Income Inequality that recognized “the
PC(USA)’s historic support of collective bargaining rights regarding wages
benefits, and unemployment.”
