Profiles of Poverty: Who Benefits from Fair Wages?

Singles Moms, Children, the Elderly and Students Have Much at Stake in the Living Wage Debate Opponents of raising the minimum wage frequently argue that low-wage jobs are transitional, for teenagers seeking experience before life in the “real world.” Granted, many teenagers work to contribute money desperately needed for their family, or are raising familiesContinue reading “Profiles of Poverty: Who Benefits from Fair Wages?”

McGimmick Budgeting No Substitute for Living Wage

Making Ends Meet: Part 2 We’ve certainly seen some sobering statistics regarding low-wage jobs out there. But — lucky us — one of the most profitable companies in the history of the world has kindly stepped up with tips for how its employees can manage their embarrassingly inadequate minimum-wage salaries. McDonald’s recently launched a handy-dandyContinue reading “McGimmick Budgeting No Substitute for Living Wage”

Low-Wage Workers Not Covering Basic Needs

Today’s minimum wages are a far cry of what it actually takes to survive. Last Thursday, thousands of fast food workers staged a strike in 50 cities across the country to draw attention to corporate wage gaps. Fast food workers are demanding $15 hourly wages; currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. PerhapsContinue reading “Low-Wage Workers Not Covering Basic Needs”

If higher education is an investment we claim to believe in — then why does it take 30 years to pay off?

More than 37 million Americans are saddled with student loans — nearly one in five households. We glorified higher education for an entire generation, enabled an unsustainable system, and then blamed graduates for their choices. While some sectors of the economy have begun to see a recovery, student loan borrowers are watching their hopes ofContinue reading “If higher education is an investment we claim to believe in — then why does it take 30 years to pay off?”

Tax Havens for Big Business? Small Business Owners Say ‘Not so fast’

Multi-Partisan small business owners spoke out earlier this month, further distinguishing their interests from those of Big Business. Wednesday, in his post “Has the Budget Crisis Du Jour Got You Down?” Bill Daley pointed out that if Congress were to close one tax loophole on offshore accounts, it could be enough to create a ‘jobContinue reading “Tax Havens for Big Business? Small Business Owners Say ‘Not so fast’”

The Nation: US Bank, Fair Lending and the Job Gap

This Week in Poverty: Banks Got Nowhere to Run To, Baby Greg Kaufmann | April 12, 2013 Last year, US Bank held its annual shareholders meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, home of its corporate headquarters. The event was dominated by shareholders and proxies who are members of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy [1], an alliance ofContinue reading “The Nation: US Bank, Fair Lending and the Job Gap”

Partnership Banking in Maine: Investing Local Capital Locally

The national and international banking systems facilitate the extraction of wealth from Maine communities. The state of Maine has the resources to slow this economic leakage and strengthen it local financial sector. LD 1078 has been introduced into Maine’s legislature. Read the Report that helped set this bill in motion: .

2012 Job Gap Report

“Broken Bootstraps: Falling Behind on Full-Time Work,” is the 14th annual installment of a joint study by Alliance for a Just Society and its affiliates in 7 states.   Unemployment rates in all states are still high. A modest $9.00/hr. minimum wage has been mentioned at the federal level. Even that income would leave mostContinue reading “2012 Job Gap Report”

Affiliate Highlight: The Montana Organizing Project

Alliance for a Just Society affiliate The Montana Organizing Project (MOP) is a collaboration of diverse community, civic, labor, faith groups, and community members.  Located in Missoula and Billings, MOP works on economic, racial and social justice issues, with the mission of promoting the dignity and empowerment of people with low and middle incomes whoContinue reading “Affiliate Highlight: The Montana Organizing Project”