Let Justice Roll Ohio: Minimum Wage Campaign Events
Updated 10/12/06

The Ohio minimum wage amendment will be on the November 7 ballot! On August 8, Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage turned in 765,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office. This is the most signatures ever turned in for a ballot initiative in Ohio’s history!

Ohio’s minimum wage initiative will raise Ohio’s minimum wage from $5.15/hour to $6.85/hour and index the wage to inflation starting January 2007.
 
From a faith perspective, the minimum wage is about more than just economics. The minimum wage is a symbol of how we value human beings, our neighborhoods. All faith traditions have a version of the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” We believe that our minimum wage tests this value.
 
Do we as citizens in Ohio believe that working people should be homeless? Should working people be hungry? In Ohio today they are. In Athens, Ohio, a family with one newborn child lives in a homeless shelter. Each day Dad goes to work full-time at a fast food restaurant, still not able to make ends meet. Senior citizens in Cincinnati who have meager retirement benefits have to go back to work to afford food and rent. All across Ohio, food pantry lines lengthen as working people are unable to afford the high cost of living and turn to food pantries for mere existence.
 
These are outrageous and immoral conditions in a country where corporate profits are skyrocketing.
 
According to Policy Matters Ohio, 719,000 Ohio workers will get an increase in pay if we raise Ohio’s minimum wage. The average increase for workers presently working under $6.85 is 80 cents per hour or an average of $1,664 per year for full time minimum wage worker. For workers who are right above $6.85, the average increase is 26 cents or $541 per year for a full time worker.

Recently, the Columbus Dispatch ran a poll of Central Ohio voters showing 78% support for raising the minimum wage. While this is overwhelming support, opposition is intensifying to fight the initiative.
 
You can help pass the Minimum Wage Initiative. Let Justice Roll Ohio is asking the faith community to commit to events in their places of worship for Living Wage Days in October. Activities can include sermons, adult education classes, forums, community events, neighborhood walks, etc. For resources on Living Wage days visit our website www.letjusticeroll.org. Also, letters to the editor of your local paper to urge support for the increased minimum wage are needed, especially from a faith or moral perspective.

LIVING WAGE DAYS EVENT SAMPLER
 
Contact person listed or Katy Heins, Lead Organizer, Let Justice Roll Ohio at 513-314-0074, letjusticerollohio@yahoo.com

Athens: Oct. 1. Amy Robison, youth ministry leader at First Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ), representing the Appalachian Peace and Justice Network, presenting on Ohio state Issue 2 to raise the minimum wage.

Columbus: Oct. 5. The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, longtime senior minister at Riverside Church, New York City, keynotes We Believe Ohio "Get Out the Vote Rally for Justice." Rev. Forbes wrote the forward to "A Just Minimum Wage." Rally at Congregation Tifereth Israel.

Chagrin Falls: Oct. 7. Workshop at the Federated United Church of Christ, 76 Bell Street. Contact Dan Kershner at 216-281-2660.

Akron: Oct. 14. Fellowship Gathering to Raise the Minimum Wage. Hosted by Akron Baptist Ministers Conference, Let Justice Roll, American Friends Service Committee and Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage. Keynote by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. Providence Baptist Church, 458 Madison Avenue at 6:30 p.m. Contact Dock Chenault at 330-376-8554.

Akron: Oct. 15. Unitarian Universalist Church, morning service at 10:30 a.m. Another service will follow the Fellowship Hour at 12:30 p.m. with a continuation of the living wage discussion. Contact Jamie Goodwin at jamie.goodwin@uuakron.org.

Cleveland: Oct. 15. Archwood United Church of Christ, 2800 Archwood Avenue, will highlight Living Wage Days during worship at 11:00 a.m. Members working in low-wage jobs will share their testimony. Contact Rev. David Bahr at 216-351-1060.

Cincinnati: Oct. 18. Sponsored by Let Justice Roll at 6:30 p.m. at the Rohs Street Coffee House and University Christian Church, 245 W. McMillan. Morgan Spurlock video on living on minimum wage with an interactive panel, discussion, volunteer opportunities.

Dayton: Oct. 19. A Breakfast Conversation for Clergy at 7:45 a.m. sponsored by Let Justice Roll with Sisters of the Precious Blood, Greater Dayton Christian Connection, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, featuring Rev. Dr. Rodney W. Kennedy, Pastor of First Baptist Church. Held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 101 Huffman Ave., Contact Rev. Beth Holten at 937-252-4467.

Athens: Oct. 19. Rally for Issue 2, Christ Lutheran Church, 69 Mill Street at 7:00 p.m. Contact Katy Heins or Christi Truly of Appalachian Peace and Justice Network at 740-592-2608, apjn@frognet.net.

Cleveland: Oct. 21. "Signs of Justice" event to show the faith community support for Issue 2. Calvary Presbyterian Church, 79th and Euclid Ave., 3 - 5 p.m. Hosted by Cleveland Jobs with Justice and Let Justice Roll. Contact Vicki Meath at 440-333-7007, Vicki@clevelandjwj.org. Flyer

Cincinnati: Oct. 22.  Discussion on the minimum wage with different points of view and Catholic Social teaching. Immaculate Heart of Mary, 7820 Beechmont, at 10:30 a.m.

Cincinnati: Oct. 25. The Women's City Club will be holding a forum on minimum wage and other state ballot initiatives at 7:00 pm at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church.

Toledo: Oct. 29. Rally for the minimum wage at 2:00 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 2210 Collingwood Blvd. Event sponsored by Toledo Jobs with Justice and Let Justice Roll. Contact Karen Krause at 419-475-8380.

Cincinnati: Oct. 30. Discussion on the minimum wage with different points of view and Catholic Social teaching. St. Ignatius Church, 5222 North Bend Road, at 7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati: Nov. 2. Forum on the minimum wage at Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. 4th Street, at 12 noon.

Columbus: Nov. 2. Faith rally with Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners at 7:00 p.m. Place and time tba.

Toledo: Nov. 5. Rally for the Minimum wage at 2 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 2210 Collingwood Blvd.  Event sponsored by Toledo Jobs with Justice and Let Justice Roll.  Contact Karen Krause at 419-475-8380.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Also see http://raisethewage.org/