wfvj press conference statement on economic justice bill of rights
Good morning. I am Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Executive Director of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice. We are a statewide interfaith organization that mobilizes congregations and clergy of diverse faiths to advocate for social and economic justice. We work for workers’ rights, immigration justice, voting rights, equity for all, and to build bridges of understanding between faiths. We are proud to speak out today in support of the Economic Bill of Rights.
In partnership with Worker Justice Wisconsin, we organize Dignity at Work, a coalition of faith groups, direct service organizations, advocacy organizations, and labor unions. Dignity at Work advocates for equal pay, a living wage, sustainable work hours, paid sick leave, paid family leave, affordable childcare, access to public transportation, affordable housing, an end to gender and racial discrimination, pension protection, and the right to organize. As you can tell, the issues we fight for are directly aligned with the rights enumerated in the Economic Justice Bill of Rights.
In partnership with Worker Justice Wisconsin, we organize Dignity at Work, a coalition of faith groups, direct service organizations, advocacy organizations, and labor unions. Dignity at Work advocates for equal pay, a living wage, sustainable work hours, paid sick leave, paid family leave, affordable childcare, access to public transportation, affordable housing, an end to gender and racial discrimination, pension protection, and the right to organize. As you can tell, the issues we fight for are directly aligned with the rights enumerated in the Economic Justice Bill of Rights.
Social justice activists have been fighting for these issues for years, but not always gaining the attention of the public or of our elected representatives. The current pandemic, however, has brought these deep inequities to the forefront of our national consciousness as never before. No long can they be ignored or swept under the rug. As we have seen low-income and communities of color bear the brunt of COVID, we have had to acknowledge that disparities in health outcomes are directly linked to lack of access to good paying jobs, health insurance, safe affordable housing, clean air and clean water. As workers have had to take time off to care for their own health or to care for sick family members, the necessity to have paid time off, in the form of paid sick leave and paid family leave, has become undeniable.
I want to lift up the fact that Representatives Hong and Shelton are putting forward this Economic Justice Bill of Rights. Not ‘benefits’, not ‘handouts’, not ‘welfare’, not ‘entitlements’, but Rights. Every person has a right to make a decent living that allows them to raise a family with security. Every person has a right to health care and to be able to take time off to care for themselves and their families without worrying about losing income or jobs. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air and to trust that the water that comes out of their faucet won’t make them sick. And everyone has the right to form a union for the protection of all in the workplace.
I want to express our gratitude to all the elected officials who are here today to stand up for these rights. These should not be partisan issues, and I hope all our representatives, regardless of party, will vote to support the Economic Justice Bill of Rights and enact all its provisions in the next legislative session.
I want to lift up the fact that Representatives Hong and Shelton are putting forward this Economic Justice Bill of Rights. Not ‘benefits’, not ‘handouts’, not ‘welfare’, not ‘entitlements’, but Rights. Every person has a right to make a decent living that allows them to raise a family with security. Every person has a right to health care and to be able to take time off to care for themselves and their families without worrying about losing income or jobs. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air and to trust that the water that comes out of their faucet won’t make them sick. And everyone has the right to form a union for the protection of all in the workplace.
I want to express our gratitude to all the elected officials who are here today to stand up for these rights. These should not be partisan issues, and I hope all our representatives, regardless of party, will vote to support the Economic Justice Bill of Rights and enact all its provisions in the next legislative session.
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