Utah elected officials opposition to even the smallest steps to protect working people could not be more clear. For years members of FACE Hunger and Homelessness have shown up to support bills to raise the minimum wage in our state only to watch those bills lose in lop sided and dispiriting ways.
Fortunately, some working people in our state have begun to organize themselves to demand better wages and working conditions. Last week the workers at a Starbucks in Bountiful became the third in Utah to state their intention of forming union under the banner of Starbucks Workers United. We have invited representatives from Starbucks Workers United attend our monthly meeting on May 10 at noon at South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society to learn more about how we can support the organizing efforts of service sector workers in our state. However, we are not waiting until that meeting to begin showing our support. On May 3, 2023, at 10 AM we are encouraging everyone who supports higher wages and better working conditions for service sector workers to stop by the Starbucks located at 421 East 400 South in Salt Lake City, buy a beverage, and tell the workers you support them. We are calling this event a "Solidarity Sip In." Here are are a few statements from faith leaders explaining why they will be participating:
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On January 19, 2023, the Coalition of Religious Communities and others came together at the Utah Capitol Building for Faith, Hunger and Homelessness Day. We want to thank Representatives Rosemary Lesser and Judy Weeks Rohner explaining why they are working to eliminate the sales tax on food, Gina Cornia from Utahns Against Hunger for explaining why Utah needs to provide additional funding for food pantries this year, Service Leadership Students from the Salt Lake Center for Education Excellence for educating everyone in the room about child and youth homelessness. Dr. Alex Jenson from BYU and students from his Applied Statistics Course for providing the findings from a survey on health and homelessness, Poet Jacqueline Osherow from Congregation Kol Ami for chanting a passage from Isaiah and our amazing Keynote Speaker, Rev. Vinnetta Golphin Wilkerson from Granger Community Christian Church.
If we continue to follow up o the issues discussed at this event this can be the year in which the Utah Legislature eliminates the sales tax on food and funds the construction of housing needed to move everyone over 65 out of Utah's homeless shelters and ensure there is enough space for families with children in the shelter system for the next twenty years. |
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