Attention Corporations: Catholic universities put their money where their mouthes are

Georgetown University and St. Thomas University are the first two Catholic universities in the U.S. to adopt a “living wage” policy in an effort to practice what the Church’s social doctrine teaches.

Georgetown passed the Just Employment Policy in 2005, though there has been some controversy involved in its timetable and implementation according to the Georgetown Solidarity Committee. At St. Thomas, a similar policy went into effect on July 1, 2007, which affects the housekeeping and grounds maintenance crews, and may be extended to subcontractors. The minimum hourly wage at St. Thomas now stands at $10.27/hour (minimum wage in the state of Florida currently sits at $6.67/hour).

Give CNS’ splendid write-up a read. It’s quite encouraging to see that institutions have detected the need to provide a decent wage so that its employees can better provide for, and possibly spend more time with, their families. While Georgetown works out the kinks in its plans, St. Thomas stands as model not only for Catholic institutions, but also for corporations in general.

A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice. In determining fair pay both the needs and the contributions of each person must be taken into account.

Agreement between the parties is not sufficient to justify morally the amount to be received in wages. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2434)

Remuneration for work should guarantee man the opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on the material, social, cultural and spiritual level, taking into account the role and the productivity of each, the state of the business, and the common good. (Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et spes, no. 67)

They commit grave injustice who refuse to pay a just wage or who do not give it in due time and in proportion to the work done (cf. Lv 19:13; Dt 24:14-15; Jas 5:4). A salary is the instrument that permits the labourer to gain access to the goods of the earth.

The simple agreement between employee and employer with regard to the amount of pay to be received is not sufficient for the agreed-upon salary to qualify as a “just wage”, because a just wage “must not be below the level of subsistence” [Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum] of the worker: natural justice precedes and is above the freedom of the contract. (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no. 302)