Federal Service Workers Strike to Send a Message to Pope Francis
Source: The Nation
By George Zornick
A s Pope Francis arrived in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, one thousand federal service workers—including many at the US Capitol, where the pope will speak later in the week—went on strike to protest poverty wages, poor working conditions, and the lack of a union.
The federal government is the largest low-wage employer in the country, despite President Obama’s recent executive order requiring federal contractors to pay at least $10.10 an hour. At an interfaith prayer service with the workers before a march to the Capitol, faith leaders decried the situation and appealed to the pontiff, who has spoken out strongly about income inequality as “the root of social evil.”
“Low-wage work is a sin against you and against all of human dignity,” Jim Winkler, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, told the crowd. “So we are so excited that today Pope Francis will come here, because his message has struck a chord in all of us in this nation. And we know the day after tomorrow, when he speaks to the Congress, that he is going to lift up your cause and our cause of economic justice and of just wages and working conditions for all of you.”
The workers, organized under the auspices of Good Jobs Nation, which is funded by several large labor unions, had previously sent a letter to the Vatican asking for an audience with the pope during his visit.
FULL story at link.
Federal workers huddle outside of Lutheran Church of the Reformation near the US Capitol. (George Zornick)
Read more: http://www.thenation.com/article/federal-service-workers-strike-to-send-a-message-to-pope-francis/
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