Several
groups in the Memphis area, including the Mid-South Peace and Justice
Center, the Mid-South Interfaith Alliance for Economic Justice,
and the Memphis Central Labor Council, are proposing a living wage
ordinance for the city of Memphis.
 Thousands
of Memphis workers are not able to meet their families' basic needs
for shelter, food, transportation, and health care on their wages
alone. Despite working hard, they are forced to rely on public assistance,
charitable help, or second and third jobs in order to make ends
meet. Without a living wage, they face uncertainty about how they
will care for themselves and their children.
The Memphis Living Wage
Campaign is a coalition effort of congregations and faith groups,
community organizations, and labor unions. The coalition believes
that no one should work full-time and still be poor at the end of
the day. The Living Wage Campaign is urging the Memphis City Council
to pass an ordinance that would require businesses receiving significant
city funds, as well as the City of Memphis itself, to pay their
workers a living wage. The Memphis Living Wage Campaign defines
a living wage as $20,000 per year, or $10 per hour with employer-provided
health insurance. This amount is enough to lift a family of four
above the poverty line, and enough to lift a family of three about
the income level that qualifies for Food Stamps.
Living
Wage Coalition Website
Yard Signs Now
Available
Email
or Call 725.4990
We'll Deliver it to You
Get
Involved:
Take Action:Contact
your City Council representative at 901-576-6786.Tell then that
you support the rights of workers to recieve a wage that can provide
for their basic needs and those of their family, it is only a basic
human right. Click
here to find out who your representative is. Contact information
for that representative and sample letters on this issue can also
be found here.
Attend a Meeting:The
Living Wage Coalition meets the second Tuesday of every month at
the EBEW Meeting Hall 1870 Madison Ave. 11:30-1:30
Volunteer:We
have plenty of opportunities for you to donate your time...
-Join the Speakers Bureau
-Join Phone Tree
–Talk with local
groups about living wage issues
-Communicate with your
elected officials
-Attend Coalition meetings
for more specific tasks
-Find more community
organizations to join our coalition
Contact Allan
Lummus or the Center
for more info.
Resources:
For a more in depth look
at the economics of a living wage in Memphis, Dr. David Ciscel has
an excellent
study.
 Other
Organizations advocating a Living Wage
Tennessee
Economic Renewal Network
ACORN
Economic
Policy Institute
Brennan
Center for Justice
Political
Economy Research Institute
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