News Intro Text
[March 16, 2018]
Date
News Item Content
<p>by Alí Bustamante, Ph.D.</p>
<p>Soon, Louisiana's Senate Labor and Industrial Committee will hear multiple bills from state Sens. Troy Carter and J.P. Morrell that promote human dignity in Louisiana by allowing workers to support themselves, their families and the common good through livable wages and equal pay.</p>
<p>Catholic social thought highlights two fundamental principles with regards to wages: First, a just wage must provide a dignified livelihood for the worker and his or her family; and second, government is responsible for protecting the rights of workers.</p>
<p>Despite this moral imperative for employers and obligation on governments, wages in Louisiana are among the lowest in the country. Low wages contribute to deep and pervasive poverty. In 2016, one in five residents and one in seven families was in poverty in Louisiana. Without sufficient incomes, a dignified livelihood is not within the reach of many working Louisianians and their families.</p>
<p>The response from state legislators to the injustice of working people earning poverty wages has been woefully lacking. State legislators ought to support minimum wage laws and equal pay while also strengthening labor protections. In actuality, many state legislators have made the lives of workers more difficult by passing laws that pre-empt cities and counties from legislating their own local minimum wage laws.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_4a8b1cbe-27de-11e8-9aad-9f2ecd7e29f5.html">READ MORE >></a></p>
<p>Soon, Louisiana's Senate Labor and Industrial Committee will hear multiple bills from state Sens. Troy Carter and J.P. Morrell that promote human dignity in Louisiana by allowing workers to support themselves, their families and the common good through livable wages and equal pay.</p>
<p>Catholic social thought highlights two fundamental principles with regards to wages: First, a just wage must provide a dignified livelihood for the worker and his or her family; and second, government is responsible for protecting the rights of workers.</p>
<p>Despite this moral imperative for employers and obligation on governments, wages in Louisiana are among the lowest in the country. Low wages contribute to deep and pervasive poverty. In 2016, one in five residents and one in seven families was in poverty in Louisiana. Without sufficient incomes, a dignified livelihood is not within the reach of many working Louisianians and their families.</p>
<p>The response from state legislators to the injustice of working people earning poverty wages has been woefully lacking. State legislators ought to support minimum wage laws and equal pay while also strengthening labor protections. In actuality, many state legislators have made the lives of workers more difficult by passing laws that pre-empt cities and counties from legislating their own local minimum wage laws.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_4a8b1cbe-27de-11e8-9aad-9f2ecd7e29f5.html">READ MORE >></a></p>