Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effects millions of mostly adult, full-time workers and their families. It would be $9.99 if the law had built in adjustments for inflation in 2009 and $12.12 if that had been done in 1968. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the federal minimum wage is now worth less than at any other point since February 1956.

Debates over increasing the minimum wage have been misleading, the minimum wage has never been indexed to keep pace with inflation. This means the minimum wage loses value every year, even in times of low inflation. What has been called an “increase” has typically been only a partial correction of that lost value. And, even that, hasn’t happened since 2009.
The minimum wage is worth 27% less than in 2009 and 40% less than in 1968.

As people of faith, we find this to be unconscionable. Families struggle to meet their basic needs and wealthy corporations make millions of dollars off worker’s labor. This is not caring for our neighbors as ourselves, which is what Jesus asked the faithful to do.

President Biden has raised the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour and we desperately need the federal minimum wage to be raised to $15 per hour for everyone and for that number to keep pace with inflation.

Options to Take Action:

1. Sign the Action Letters at the Action Table outside the church on Sunday morning.
2. Download a copy of the Action Letter that you can sign and mail. Those out of the state of CA can use this letter.
3. Participate in the action at the Roots Action website.

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If you ever need to look up your member of the U.S. House of Representatives or your U.S. Senators check here: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

To find contact information for your California State Senator or California State Assemblymember check here: www.senate.ca.gov and www.assembly.ca.gov.