Op-Ed Labor in the Pulpit

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. - - - Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, jr. Since 1996, thousands of congregations have focused Labor Day weekend services on the injustices facing low-wage workers and the religious community’s effort to support those workers’ struggles for living wages and family-sustaining benefits.

As the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, this coming Sunday, August 31s,t will be observed as Labor in the Pulpit Sunday as part of the Labor in the Pulpit nationwide initiative. Every major faith tradition embraced by working families includes in its teachings the call for fair treatment of working people.

The Labor in the Pulpit initiative began as a social justice effort in 1996 to address the everyday concerns of working class families. The initiative seeks widespread support from members and leaders of all religious denominations. It has been endorsed by, and received resources from, Jewish, Muslim and many Christian congregations.

The church places an individual’s dignity at the center of its social messages, that concern for human dignity is the basis of the longtime partnerships between labor unions and religious denominations. Celebrate the sacred link between faith, work, and justice. Here is an opportunity to have a voice from your pulpit join in the cry for justice for workers. Invite a union member or labor leader to be a guest speaker on Labor Day weekend, or focus your Labor Day weekend service on worker justice issues. We need your help to make this effort successful.

In 1968, black workers in Memphis faced the systemic discrimination of an employer who refused to acknowledge their desire to be a union. Forty years later, it is surprising, and sad, to see that economic and systemic barriers have created a new group of black workers who must struggle against the odds to win their rights and a voice on the job.

Such is the current plight of security guards in Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania cities and towns. Private security is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, however, many people employed in this industry lack health care insurance coverage or paid sick leave.

It is estimated that in the Philadelphia region alone there are 10,000 people currently employed as security guards. Of that estimate, 97% are African-American. Think of that number for a moment and imagine the exponential affect that lack of health insurance and paid sick leave has on one of those people and their family.

If Mom or Dad is sick and has to make the decision about taking the day off to visit a doctor or stay home in bed, the whole family suffers along with them; loss of the wage that would have been earned that day and potentially the cost of medicines or additional child care expenses if the parent is unwell and unable to look after their child. And consider the impact of this decision if this Mom or Dad is the head of a one-parent household.

In the richest country in the world, more than 2 million full-time, year round workers live below the poverty line; struggling to pay for necessities such as food, housing, healthcare, transportation and child-care. Even if you do not participate in Labor in the Pulpit Sunday please take a moment during this Labor Day weekend to remember the struggles of workers that still exist today in the United States of America.