Local nonprofit joins Wage Week celebration

Just Economics, a nonprofit working toward a just and sustainable local economy, had joined the celebration for Wage Week. The celebration is geared to increase awareness for the need of a higher minimum wage, celebrate minimum wage advancements, unions, citizens and community leaders. Wage Week events take place on Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24 including a BUYcott, a People’s Advocacy and Action Group event to humanize poverty and an organized walk.

From Just Economics

Press Release

July 24th 2009 is the last time we saw an increase in the federal minimum wage. As we approach this anniversary, advocates and organizations across the country are celebrating Wage Week July 20th-24th. The intended purpose of the week is to acknowledge the continued need to raise the wage floor, celebrate living wage victories, and honor the organizations, unions, individuals, community leaders, and businesses using a variety of strategies to bring about a more just economy.
“Living wage jobs are one of the cornerstones to building a more just and sustainable economy. Many people have been working in many different ways to help raise the wage floor and we have seen a lot of victories.’’ Said Vicki Meath, Executive Director of Just Economics, “As we push forward working to raise the wage floor, it is important to take time to celebrate those victories and honor the various ways that people have contributed to economic justice.”
Just Economics (JE) is a local organization celebrating wage week. The nonprofit organization has been working to build a more just and sustainable local economy since their inception. The organization started as a result of the Asheville-Buncombe Living Wage Campaign which succeeded in advocating for Western North Carolina’s first local living wage policy with the City of Asheville in 2007. Just Economics has worked since then to strengthen the policy, work on other policy issues related to economic justice, and build grassroots leadership.
Just Economics also initiated a voluntary Living Wage Employer Certification Program modeled after a similar program in Ithaca, NY. Just Economics’ program has grown to be the largest in the nation and now serves as a model for other communities. In 2013, Just Economics began work with the Thompkins Worker Center and Interfaith Worker Justice to create a toolkit for other communities to use to implement a similar program. After using the toolkit and consulting with Just Economics, the Durham Living Wage Project launched a certification program for living wage employers this past spring. The project in Durham is the latest in the growing network of Living Wage Certification programs across the country.
“Wage Week is an opportunity to share and celebrate strategies. Our Living Wage Employer Certification program is one way that we work to raise consciousness about living wages and help to raise the wage floor. This program has been very successful and has resulted in nearly a million dollars worth of wage raises a year for low-wage workers,” Meath continued. “We are very proud of this work and we work in solidarity with people, businesses, and organizations supporting a more sustainable economy that works for all people.”
In Asheville, Just Economics is participating in wage week with a variety of activities including:
**BUYcott on Thursday July 23rd at noon at Creperie Bouchon. A BUYcott is the opposite of a boycott and an opportunity to consciously choose to spend our dollars at businesses that are supporting the type of community we want to live in. Just Economics has a list of nearly 400 employers that are Living Wage Certified and they team up with the Ethical Society to show up and ‘vote with our dollars’ through regular BUYcotts, having lunch or coffee at a Living Wage Certified Employers.
**July 23rd at 6pm –Humanizing Poverty, a People’s Advocacy and Action Group event at the United Way. Celebrating how stories and the brave people who share them, help to create community change, including raising the wage floor. Just Economics’ People’s Advocacy and Action Group for July will be a chance for people to share their stories and participate in a new film project with Just Economics and leaders from the last Voices for Economic Justice class. Stories can help transform people, transform decision makers, and transform our communities. This event is free and dinner is provided
**July 24th at Noon starting at Pritchard Park-WAGE WEEK WALK— Just Economics’ members and supporters will walk together downtown with signs celebrating living wages, handing out information about Wage Week and Living Wage Certified Employers. Meet at 11:45 in the United Way parking lot or at noon at the metal statue in Pritchard Park.