Pope John Paul II Quotes

Political Freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying.

It is time this Congress listened to the American people and minimum-wage workers, and it is time that we act.

We have to raise the minimum wage.

I think the idea that giant profitable corporations should pay their workers enough so that they don't need food stamps - since when is that left-wing? How did that become 'leftie?' That doesn't seem leftie to me. That seems common sense.

The priority of work over capital places an obligation in justice upon employers to consider the welfare of the workers before the increase of profits.

There can be no distress, there can be no hard times, when labor is well paid. The man who raises his hand against the progress of the workingman raises his hand against prosperity.

An industry that can not pay its workers a decent living wage has no right to exist.

What the labor movement did in this country is to make sure that capitalism worked.

living wage

“A fair day’s wages for a fair day’s work,” is as just a demand as governed men ever made of governing; yet in what corner of this planet was that ever realized?

Unless you’re at the very top, you need a more equitable economy.

We can afford to pay workers fairly, and it is the right thing to do. We also need equal pay for equal work.

Pay equity matters because those dollars add up over time.

We must organize. We must protest. We must cry out in a loud voice that America needs a raise. We must keep working until workers in this country don't have to struggle to make ends meet.

I believe in $15 as a minimum wage.

To improve the standard of living for working folks, we have to raise the minimum wage and empower workers to fight for their interests in an economic and political system that's stacked against them.

As more and more people demand fair pay, the Government and big corporations are going to have to take notice.

This [minimum wage] legislation, passed by the 81st Congress at its first session, is an important addition to the laws we live by. It is a measure dictated by social justice. It adds to our economic strength. It is founded on the belief that full human dignity requires at least a minimum level of economic sufficiency and security.

I want to applaud those workers rallying to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. I believe strongly that a great nation will not survive when so few have so much and so many have so little. Every worker in America should be given respect, dignity and the wages and benefits they need to take care of their family.

The value of the minimum wage shouldn't be eroded, and it has been.

And my approach has always been to stand up and speak out on behalf of the economic rights of people.

Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do, but it's a popular thing to do as well.

All workers want is a fair shake.

I am one of those men who believes that the best workingman ought to have the best pay.

The Civil Rights for Musicians Act is about economic justice for African American artists. It's about what's right. And it's about time.