Community, Faith and Labor Coalition (CFLC) in Indianapolis are groundbreakers!
Our volunteers organized in 2000 to focus faith-based activism on social and economic justice issues for working families in Marion County. One of our firsts was a Candlelight Vigil for Immigrant Worker Rights at St. Mary's Catholic Church to support growing numbers of Hispanic immigrant workers.
A living wage campaign followed for city/county employees and local government contract workers, becoming a signature issue. Living wage became a household word and we were often called Indy Living Wage Coalition. Due to low pay, high turnover, wasted training dollars and cost of living, the city's move to reset pay levels was a good step. Lowest paid employees saw good increases and county employees have also gained parity. Contract workers issues remain on our "to do" list.
Then, Justice for Janitors came to Indy. We organized its public kick-off, showing "Bread and Roses" on National Justice for Janitors Day, June 15th, 2004. "Adopting a building" cleaned by organizing janitors, we rallied and held a prayer breakfast followed by a march to Wellpoint. This led to a breakthrough responsible contracting agreement with this high profile company! Many others followed their lead and we hope for contract bargaining to improve wages, benefits and working conditions soon.
UPDATE: Congratulations to the Justice for Janitors campaign!!! After years of marching for justice, Janitors represented by SEIU Local 3, ratified their first union contract!
CFLC affiliated with Interfaith Worker Justice in 2005. We held events at Butler, IUPUI, U of I, Marian College, community centers and spoke at radio programs, churches and MLK celebrations. We co-sponsored a Citizens' Congressional Hearing on Healthcare and petition drive, public hearing on FSSA privatization, Midwest Peace and Justice Summits, public access TV campaign and Earth Charter Summits.
Labor solidarity issues also included municipal collective bargaining, IndyGo route disputes, organizing Brylane and public library employees. Let Justice Roll and IWJ helped us bring a faith-based approach to raise the state minimum wage with our Help Hardworking Hoosiers campaign!
Our leaders are:
President |
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Education Committee Chair |
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Legislative Committee Chair |
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One of the most common questions we can answer here is: What would it cost?
The direct cost to the City and County governments to bring all of its full-time workers up to a wage of $10 an hour would be approximately $740,000 per year. 460 workers would be affected. However, taxpayers would save money in many other areas. Taxpayers now pay the cost of food stamps, medical and housing programs that many full-time workers need to survive on current poverty wages. A living wage would remove the taxpayers' subsidy now given to many employers dealing with our government. All community residents would also benefit as higher incomes result in more stable families and neighborhoods, lower crime, better education, not to mention increased tax revenues paid by these workers and the businesses they patronize.
Another is: Won't paying higher wages hurt businesses?
A careful study by a Michigan State University professor of economics, originally opposed to living wage ordinances, shows little, if any, job losses. Job losses are more than offset by the benefits of lifting families out of poverty. How do businesses pay more without suffering? Higher pay leads to more productive workers due to less turnover and absenteeism, higher employee satisfaction, and greater willingness to upgrade skills.
