Arkansas' Working Families Get Long-Overdue Raise

By Rev. Stephen Copley

May 2006 -- In Arkansas, we recently won a resounding victory for working families when a $1.10 increase in the state minimum wage was signed into law by the governor.  I led the coalition of faith, community and labor groups called Give Arkansas a Raise Now which played a key role in persuading lawmakers to enact the increase.  The coalition is also an affiliate of “Let Justice Roll” Living Wage campaign.  The National Council of Churches is a lead organization in Let Justice Roll.

 The increase came less than four months after Give Arkansas a Raise Now announced a campaign to raise the state minimum wage through an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution.  Arkansas became the 19th state and the District of Columbia to have a higher minimum wage that the federal minimum wage.

 I am a member of the MFSA National Board and past co-coordinator of the Arkansas chapter.  I am very proud of the heritage MFSA has in speaking for economic justice.  This is certainly in line with the prophets of the Old Testament and of Jesus.  It certainly is in our roots as Methodists, bringing memories of John Wesley preaching and working with the coal miners of England. 

 It has always been a concern of mine to connect my Christian faith to the concern for workers and their rights.  The campaign to raise the minimum wage is an example of this.  The current federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour is about $10,700 per year.  This is not sufficient for anyone to live with any quality of life.  I am persuaded that Christ calls us to strive to change this situation.  I feel that we have made an important first step in this direction.

To find out more about the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign go to www.letjusticeroll.org