A“Model Church” for Economic Justice

The lowest paid workers in Pennsylvania just got a raise, and Casey Gilmore, a UUSC volunteer from Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, Penn., recently received a big thank-you in this effort from one of the state’s longest-standing champions of economic justice.

John Dodds, head of a faith-labor-community coalition that led workers to victory in Pennsylvania’s recent statewide legislative wage win writes, "Thank you for participating in this essential effort. . . .The participation of the Main Line Unitarian helped us win strong support among legislators in southeast Pennsylvania. This was extremely helpful. No one in southeast wavered for a moment. You are a model for church involvement in a social justice issue.”

Casey, as chair of Main Line’s Peace and Justice Task Force helped organize a UUSC Justice Sunday service in March 2006 and invited Dodds as a guest speaker on the right to a living wage.

She explains, “UUSC's Justice Sunday came at a perfect time for our church. The issue was just coming up for a vote in Harrisburg and it wasn't on our radar screens at all, what with the war, civil liberties, and other minor issues. Once I connected with John and we did the service, everyone was eager to call their representatives and demand support for the $7.15 bill.”

At the service, Casey and activists handed out flyers to everyone who attended, listing two dozen swing legislators' phone numbers and a website for identifying legislators. Casey reports, “I know when I called my legislator, his assistant seemed very interested in my comments, especially regarding the hypocrisy of voting raises for themselves while not giving this bill a chance.”

The calls made from Main Line UU really packed a punch, as they originated in a district with a moderately Republican political orientation -- and whose legislators hadn't necessarily heard constituency opinion on this issue.

The result? The Pennsylvania state house passed the amended ($7.15) bill by a vote of 146-50. Casey continued to help raise voices for a just minimum wage in the subsequent Senate campaign.

The final happy ending was a resounding victory for more than 423,000 workers in Pennsylvania.

UUSC recognizes the impact of our members and supporters for a living wage at Main Line! We appreciate your commitment to faith-in-action on economic justice!