| On September 4th living wage advocates from all across America will gather on our nation’s bridges and fly the banner: Bridge the Economic Gap with www.UniversalLivingWage.org. Because of the high cost of housing throughout the United States, the current federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour is one of the major causes of homelessness. The National Coalition for the Homeless predicts that over 3.5 million people will experience homelessness this year. At the same time, the federal government states that 42% of the homeless are working at some point during the week. That wage won’t afford anyone enough to get into and keep a one bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States. The work ethic seems to be intact...but clearly the wage is not. | |
| Because of the national scope of the problem, we have decided to solve the problem at the source and fix the federal minimum wage. Rather than just continue to pick an amount out of the air (which is the current congressional practice), we have decided to take a logical approach that relates the wage to the everyday lives of American workers. | |
| Using existing government guidelines, we’ve devised a single national formula that indexes the wage to the local cost of housing throughout the United States. It is based on the moral premise that if a person works 40 hours in a week, they should be able to afford the basics: food, clothing, and shelter. | |
| In (your City)____________we’ll be on the bridge at (locations)______________________ and _________________ from _____ (time) ______. Be sure to honk! Let’s put America to work and into housing. | |
| Your Name Here |
| 1. We’re marching in protest,
we’re marching in rage, ‘cause it don’t make dollars, and it don’t make cents (sense)... living on the minimum wage! |
|
2. One,
Two, Three, Four
We won’t take low wage no more! One, Two, Three, Four We won’t take low wage no more! |
|
3. Health
Care, Housing, and Living Wages...for all.
Health Care, Housing, and Living Wages...for all. |
|
4. A Fair
Wage for a Fair Day’s Work
Workin’ for The Man as a soda jerk A Fair Wage for a Fair Day’s work Workin’ for The Man as a retail Clerk A Fair Wage for a Fair Day’s Work Caring for the baby that’s just been birthed. But it don’t make dollars And it don’t make cents (sense) Livin’ on the Minimum Wage! |
|
5. Bring
America Home,
Stop The Jobs that Roam. Bring America Home, |
by Universal Living Wage
PO Box 2312, Austin, TX 78768. All rights reserved.
This site last updated March 21, 2012. Thank you for visiting