Lord, when did I see you oppressed?

A reflection on the lectionary gospel reading for Sunday, November 20th

    The weekend of November 19th - 20th, Workers Interfaith Network is encouraging Mid-South congregations to observe a wage theft sabbath. The following post is a reflection on the Christian lectionary text that clergy can use to incorporate wage theft concerns into their sermons or homilies.

     Many Christian churches will celebrate Christ the King Sunday on November 20th. The lectionary text for the day, Matthew 25:31-46, gives us an opportunity to reflect on just what kind of a king Jesus is.
   
    The rulers of this world often seek power and wealth for themselves. In Matthew 25, Jesus once again points toward the "upside down" kingdom of God. He does not ask the nations when they have amassed gold for him or gathered armies for battle. Instead he declares that our actions toward the most impoverished and vulnerable have actually been done to him.

    In reading Jesus' words about the hungry, sick, and imprisoned, we might assume Christ only asks us to meet the immediate needs of the poor. If we consider Matthew 25 in light of Jesus' many other teachings about wealth, poverty, and injustice, we quickly see that providing comfort alone is not enough.

    From Jesus' announcement in Luke 4 that he has come to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to his turning over of the moneychangers' tables in the Temple, it is clear that the kingdom of God includes economic justice. It isn't hard to imagine Jesus adding another criteria to his long list in Matthew 25. I can hear the nations asking him, "Lord, when did we see you oppressed, and we acted for justice for you?" Other nations might ask, "Lord, when were you a victim of injustice, and we stayed silent?"

    After all, hunger, poverty, and injustice are intimately connected. Seeking God's kingdom means both feeding the poor and asking why they are hungry. And for many of our brothers and sisters, their hunger and poverty is through no fault of their own. Some cannot find work at all, or enough work to pay the bills. Others have worked hard, and have been taken advantage of by an employer who refuses to pay them.

    There are few insults that sting as deeply as laboring for another person, and then not receiving the pay that has been promised to you. While it is shocking, wage theft is not uncommon. Recent research suggests that as many as two out of three low-wage workers have been cheated out of some wages that are owed to them.

    The bad news is that when people of faith and good will are silent, wage theft continues unchecked.

    The good news is that when people of faith speak up with victims of injustices like wage theft, bad employers are much less likely to get away with cheating their workers.

     This is another way that the church can feed the poor, in addition to our food pantries and soup kitchens. When wage theft is stopped, many of the hungry and naked can feed and clothe themselves through their own labor, as they desired to all along.

Find more resources and sign up your congregation to participate in the wage theft sabbath.

Speak out for a living wage on November 1st

     Some people would say it's crazy to call for a living wage in this economy. Maybe it is a little crazy. But I'll tell you something else - it's working.

     Because of the activism of workers, students, and community members like you, the University of Memphis has taken first steps toward a living wage for their workers. All of last academic year, the United Campus Workers union, Workers Interfaith Network, and the Progressive Student Alliance publicly pushed the University to move to a living wage for all U. of M. workers. Many of you wrote emails and postcards, made phone calls to the University. You lobbied the state legislature. You took part in a speak out on campus, a prayer vigil, and a rally to deliver the hundreds of postcards you gathered for President Shirley Raines.

    The result? After four years of no pay raises, the University implemented a raise of 3% or $750 a year, which ever was greater. The $750 option, called a flat dollar minimum raise, is important because it's especially targeted to low-wage workers. Many custodial workers and other low-wage workers ended up getting 3 times as big of a raise because of this new approach. And it was an approach raised by activists like you!

   The University has also just implemented a one time $1,000 bonus for most full-time workers.
   But before you assume that our work is done, I also want to stress that many current workers at the University still make far below a living wage. Plus, the University has not changed any of its practices or policies about what new workers are paid when they are hired. Many new positions still pay just above minimum wage.

    That's why workers need you to come to a Living Wage Speak Out on Tuesday November 1st at 6:00 p.m. in Brister Hall Room 220.

    At the Speak Out, you'll:

• learn about what pay and working conditions are like for workers right now.
• understand how the first steps toward a living wage were won last academic year.
• get involved in efforts this academic year to push the University to take further steps to a living wage.
• hear from activists in the successful Vanderbilt University campaign for a living wage.

    Directions to Brister Hall: Brister is located on Alumni Ave., near the intersection of Alumni and Patterson St. There are two ways you can enter the building. If you are entering from the Alumni Ave. entrance, you will already be on the second floor when you enter. If you are entering from Wilder Tower (which is attached to Brister Hall), you will need to turn left at the elevators and go up 1 flight of stairs to get to the 2nd floor of Brister Hall.

    Parking info: A few metered spaces are available for visitors in the lot at Mynders and Patterson. There are also metered spots available in the large parking lot across the railroad tracks on Southern. Garage parking is available for $2 an hour in the garage on Zach Curlin, next to Campus School. You may also be able to find free street parking along Walker or Zach Curlin.
   View a University of Memphis campus map.

Help strengthen WIN's work for a living wage. Become a Workers Interfaith Network member today.

Encourage your congregation to join the wage theft Sabbath, Nov. 19th - 20th

To draw attention to the crisis of wage theft, and encourage people of faith to act, your congregation is invited to take part in a wage theft Sabbath during your regular worship services on November 19th - 20th.

There are many different ways that your congregation can participate:

• Including prayers for victims of wage theft, and prayers for employers who are taking advantage of their workers, in your worship service.
• Using our wage theft sabbath resource packet to develop a missions moment or sermon about wage theft.
• Using a bulletin insert in the resource packet to educate your members about wage theft.
• Inviting your members to fill out a pledge card to stop wage theft (found on the bulletin insert), and returning these pledge cards to WIN.
• If you have low-wage workers in your congregation, holding a wage theft workshop before or after your regular service. WIN can provide a workshop leader to discuss what counts as wage theft and what workers can do if they're a victim. Just email me to request a workshop leader.
• Taking up a collection to support WIN's work against wage theft.

I would love to be able to share with all of our members which congregations are participating, so if you plan to do one or more of the actions above, please send in the commitment form you can find in the resource packet.

Our wage theft sabbath resource packet is designed to make participating as easy as possible for your clergyperson or anyone else who helps plan worship. What's included?

• A reflection on the Christian lectionary text for Sunday November 20th
• A Jewish perspective on wage theft
• A bulletin insert that includes a pledge card with many different actions people can take to stop wage theft
• A responsive prayer
• Suggested scriptures related to wage theft
• Stories of two Memphis workers who have experienced wage theft
• A more detailed description of what wage theft is, and answers to frequently asked questions about wage theft.
• A commitment form you can return to let WIN know how your congregation plans to participate in the wage theft Sabbath.

    The wage theft Sabbath is part of a national week of action against wage theft that dozens of cities will be participating in. If you're located outside of Memphis and want to find out about activities in your area, contact Interfaith Worker Justice.

Want to take action with workers seeking justice? Sign up for email action alerts from Workers Interfaith Network at http://www.workersinterfaithnetwork.org/

Worker recovers $13,000 in stolen wages from Memphis restaurant

     Did you know that there are some waiters in Memphis who are getting paid nothing by the restaurants they work for, except for the tips you leave?

Fernando asked for WIN members' support as he fought to get his stolen wages from Mis Pueblos restaurant

     That's what happened to Fernando Santiago. Fernando was a waiter at Mis Pueblos restaurant. He worked 60 hours a week.  The law required Mis Pueblos to pay him $2.13 an hour. If customers' tips did not bring his pay up to $7.25 an hour, the restaurant was also supposed to pay the difference. Since Fernando was also working more than 40 hours a week, he was also entitled to overtime pay for the extra 20 hours a week he worked.

    Fernando wasn't sure what the law said about his pay, but he knew he was entitled to some kind of wages besides tips. He called one of our partner organizations, Latino Memphis, who referred him to WIN's Workers' Center.

    After Fernando sat down with WIN staff member Alfredo Pena, they figured out Mis Pueblos owed Fernando tens of thousands of dollars.

   After several negotiation sessions between Mis Pueblos and WIN, Fernando agreed to take a settlement of $13,000 in back wages.

    This is the most money that WIN has helped a worker recover, without having to involve an attorney, since our Workers' Center began four years ago. We could not have done it without the generous financial support and activism of WIN members like you!

   Reflecting on the experience, Fernando said "I feel good, and not that good at the same time, because they only paid me part of what they owed me. But it's good to know that no matter what, we all have rights here. What they were doing was stealing. Maybe this will make the manager start paying his employees like he's supposed to."

    Fernando also wants to share his appreciation to all the members of WIN for supporting his in his struggle to get his stolen wages. He's become a member of WIN's Workers' Center. He's already working to recruit more restaurant workers to get training on their workplace rights from WIN.

    I was also deeply moved by Fernando's decision to donate $2,000 of his wage settlement back to WIN so that we can support other workers' wage theft cases. WIN requires that all workers who win their cases donate 10% of their settlement back to the Center, but Fernando went above and beyond this. "I received help from WIN, and if I can help a little bit back, I want to do that," Fernando said. "The more we support WIN, the more WIN is able to help others."

Want to join Fernando in supporting WIN? Make a gift so that our Workers' Center can partner with other workers who are facing wage theft: https://www.chi-cash-advance.com/sforms/appeal785/Contribute.aspx

Preview silent auction items for the Faith and Labor Picnic

This year's Faith and Labor Picnic will include our first ever silent auction. You can preview the items below that will be up for bid on Labor Day. And don't forget to buy your Picnic tickets now, while they're still discounted! Remember, your ticket price includes all musical and dance entertainment, food, beverages, chance to win doorprizes, and a MoonBounce and facepainting for the kids.

Item #1: Memphis Grizzlies basketball signed by Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Sam Young, AJ Mayo, Marc Gasol, Greivis Vasquez, Coach Lionel Hollins, and more

Value: $250
Minimum bid: $85
Donated by: Coach Lionel Hollins, Memphis Grizzlies

Item #2: "God's kingdom is right by your doorstep" 16 x 20 inch painting

Value: $200
Minimum bid: $75
Donated by: Jaime Winton

Item #3: Pottery honey pot

Value: $30
Minimum bid: $18
Donated by: Melissa Bridgman

Item #4: Glass jewelry pendant with tree of life

Value: $25
Minimum bid: $15
Donated by: Marjorie Levy (her jewelry is available at the St. John's Artisans store)

Item #5: Signed paperback copy of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Value: $15

Minimum bid: $10

Donated by: Gretchen Rubin

Item #6: $25 Target gift card

Value: $25
Minimum bid: $18
Donated by: Judy Bettice

Item #7: Swarovski crystal pendant on 18 inch sterling silver chain

Value: $30
Minimum bid: $18
Donated by: Anne Walton Garrison (her jewelry is available at the St. John's Artisans store)

Item #8
$25 Kroger gift card

Value: $25
Minimum bid: $18
Donated by: Communication Workers of America




Want to take one of these items home? Come to the Faith and Labor Picnic on Labor Day, September 5th to place your bid. We will be accepting cash, checks, and Visa or MasterCard. Bidding will be open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.



Get a 15% discount on your Faith and Labor Picnic tickets by buying them by Thursday, September 1st. Advance tickets are available from WIN's website, by calling (901) 332-3570, or by purchasing them from a volunteer in your congregation or organization.

Top Ten Reasons to Come to the Faith and Labor Picnic

Each Labor Day, Workers Interfaith Network throws the ultimate party with a purpose: the Faith and Labor Picnic. More than 450 Mid-Southerners come together for fellowship, fun, and to raise the funds we need to stand up for worker rights all year round. I can think of dozens of reasons you'll want to buy your tickets today, but I've narrowed it down to a top ten list:

10. If you get your tickets before the Picnic, you get a 15% discount! Go to our website to buy tickets before the event, or buy them from a ticket seller in your congregation or organization. Advance tickets are just $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5 -12, or $30 for families.

Note: if you use our website, the top part of the form is for Picnic sponsorships. You don't have to sponsor in order to buy tickets. Just click on the button that says "no thank you" under Picnic sponsor, and then fill out the ticket portion.

9. Did someone say doorprizes? With 35 doorprizes to give away, there's a good chance you'll walk away with something. Could you use an Itunes or Target gift card, a couple of boxes of Kroger cereal, a basket of Avon goodies, or a beach bag made from plarn?

8. The dunk tank is a great way to release your pent-up agression. We've even heard that a County Commissioner may agree to get in the dunk tank this year. Start practicing your throws!

7. Incredible music and dance performances. Danza Azteca has been a highlight of the Picnic for the last 3 years, and favorites from last year Alicia Washington and Esteban Alexis will join us again this year. New this year: a performance by John Kilzer, who you can check out in this video from Channel 3's Live at 9 (at the 2:45 mark is where John performs.)

6. A Labor Day cookout is fun, as long as you're not the cook. So leave the hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie burgers, baked beans, chips, and veggies to us. Oh, and did I mention the homemade cookies? You don't want to miss the taste - or the joy of not having to turn on your oven.

5. Kids bouncing off the walls? Let them bounce in the Moon Bounce instead. We'll also have facepainting for the kids.

4. We're going green this year! All our plates, napkins, and utensils will either be made from recycled materials or will be compostable.

3. Are you a Grizzlies fan? This year, we'll have a small silent auction for several items, included a basketball signed by Grizzly star players (AJ Mayo, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay, and more), pottery by Melissa Bridgman, jewelry by local artists, and a signed copy of The Happiness Project. So be sure to bring your checkbook or some extra cash in case you see something you just have to have!

2. Connect with other progressive causes. Curious about what else is going on in Memphis and how you can connect? Lots of other nonprofits and unions will have booths at the Picnic. The Picnic is also a great chance to check out candidates for office, since many usually attend.

1. You'll celebrate the victories you've made possible, and raise the funds we need to win even greater victories. Workers Interfaith Network wants to say thank you in person for partnering with University of Memphis workers to get their first raise toward a living wage, and much more.

     Have I convinced you? Buy your discounted tickets by Thursday, September 1st, because prices will be higher at the door.

     We look forward to seeing you on Labor Day, September 5th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1738 Galloway Ave. in Midtown.

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Labor Day Weekend Worship Resources

    Are you a clergy or layperson who wants to help your congregation make the connection between faith and work? Your Labor Day weekend worship service is an ideal time to do this. Workers Interfaith Network and our national organization Interfaith Worker Justice have prepared a number of resources to help you plan your service.
    You can view a complete list of resources here, but I want to highlight a few things for you:

• Looking for a scripture for your sermon that relates to work and justice? See our list. If you can think of another good scripture to use, tell me in the comments section.
• Need a prayer or a responsive reading? Here are a collect and a responsive prayer you can use.
• City of Memphis workers are facing a crisis as the City has cut their pay, in violation of collective bargaining agreements the City already signed. Use our bulletin insert to share about their situation, and let members of your congregation know how they can help.
• Interfaith Worker Justice has a number of prayer and responsive readings about the unemployment crisis.
• If you'll be celebrating the eucharist on Labor Day weekend, you can use our Great Thanksgiving for Labor Sunday.

   Of course, if you're in the Memphis area, we hope you'll also be inviting members of your congregation to attend the Faith and Labor Picnic on Labor Day. The Faith and Labor Picnic is the best way to celebrate the true meaning of Labor Day with 450 other people who care about justice for workers.

   Do you plan to do something special in your worship service to connect faith and work? Let us know what your plans are in the comments section.

Partner with workers seeking justice: become a sponsor or buy tickets to WIN's Faith and Labor Picnic. Buying your tickets before the Picnic gets you a 15 percent discount!