The U. S. Living Wage movement - now over a decade old - has delivered concrete benefits to millions of our country's lowest wage workers and is widely recognized as one of the most successful grassroots offensives in modern memory. But the real legacy of the Living Wage movement is not a policy victory - but a political and organizing one. From the more than 150 local living wage ordinances - to the sweeping minimum wage ballot initiative wins in the last election - the community, labor and faith coalitions that have come together across the country to fight for higher wages at the local, state and national level have changed the public debate about work and wages, transformed the electorate (by motivating low income and minority communities to vote), and built the capacity of the orgs that make up the larger movement for economic justice.

Particpants will get an overview of the living wage movement since 1994 - including toughest challenges and new directions in labor standards organizing (such as "big box" living wage campaigns, communiy benefits agreements, and fighting for paid sick days). Participants will also hear directly from organzers of both local and state efforts (both ballot and legislative). Participants will be asked to share their own expriences in living wage campaigns - but also to think about how to capitalize on the gains of the movement so far and take organizing around labor standards to the next level.

Panel will include:
Jen Kern, ACORN Living Wage Resource Center
Cindia Cameron - Altanta 9 to 5 and Atlanta Living Wage Campaign
Tamecka Piece - FLorida ACORN chair - Leader of the Florida minimum wage ballot initiaive in 2004
Others