Comment: Work
The governor of New York in the United States, Andrew Cuomo, is proposing to raise the minimum wage paid to employees in the state. New York’s archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan backs boosting minimum pay to a level that enables families to support themselves
Support for a living wage NEW YORKERS ARE currently thoughtfully considering a proposal from Governor Andrew Cuomo to raise the minimum wage. When I contemplate issues like this, my thoughts often turn to my visits to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. One place I make it a point to visit is the tomb of Pope Leo XIII, who taught back in 1891 that every worker deserves a “living wage,” which he defined as one which allows the worker to care for his or her family in “reasonable and frugal comfort,” tending to their home, education and health. Then I’ll stop in front of the tomb of Pope St John Paul II, who wrote in 1991 that work was not an end in itself, but a means to an end, the end being the dignity of the worker, the sacredness of life and the ability of the labourer to provide the basics for a spouse and children. I always go to the side altar of St Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, himself a carpenter, who raised Jesus in a workshop with a sense of the dignity of labour. And, of course, the high altar, over the tomb of St Peter, where Pope Francis celebrates Mass. As we saw so clearly during his visit to New York last September, the Pope has become the planet’s most eloquent advocate for the rights of the struggling and poor. A lot of people ask me: “Does the Church have a position on the minimum-wage issue?” I reply: “No. But she does have position on a living wage: That every worker deserves one!” Yes, there’s a lot of give and take about the wisdom of raising the minimum wage. To do so might, at first, appear to be a no-brainer, as all can admit that the current level — $9 (£6.40) an hour in New York State — is hardly sufficient to support an individual, much less a family. At the same time, some businesses have brought up points in opposition. 08 JUSTICE MAGAZINE
abused and thrown away when no longer needed. Successful business leaders realise that when they treat their employees well, the morale and production of their workers go way up, as does the buying power of the population, which generates more business.
“ Cardinal Timothy Dolan Photo: George Martell/Pilot New Media Non-profit human service providers applaud a raise for low-income workers while wanting to ensure there is adequate reimbursement to cover increased costs. Both sides should be heard. But not only is it possible to find common ground, it is imperative that we do so, because the status quo is not working. The governor’s statewide proposal is worth considering, because it projects living earnings for 2.3 million low-income New Yorkers across the state. Similar local initiatives also warrant serious consideration. We can all agree that a minimum wage is valuable protection for labourers, and that the current level is too low. We can also find common ground in recalling that our workers not only deserve a living wage, but also benefits in the US to help with health insurance, pensions, sick leave and holidays. The Bible teaches that workers deserve their pay, and that labourers cannot be reduced to objects to be used,
The Bible teaches that workers deserve their pay, and that labourers cannot be reduced to objects to be used, abused and thrown away when no longer needed
As Pope Francis has said: “A just wage enables (workers) to have adequate access to all the other goods which are destined for our common use...Business is a vocation, and a noble vocation, provided that those engaged in it see themselves challenged by a greater meaning in life; this will enable them truly to serve the common good by striving to increase the goods of this world and to make them more accessible to all.” At the recent Synod on the Family in Rome, the bishops were clear that less-than-adequate pay can threaten the peace and security of a family. When the family is in distress, all of us are at risk. There’s already way too much pressure on our families, with evident cultural erosion as a result. A lot of problems in the family and home seem beyond remedy. This one is not. That’s why raising the minimum wage to a living wage is so important. JM This article first appeared in the New York Daily News. Reproduced with permission.