Integrity
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Some Minutes relating to our Integrity testimony
- January 2007: Atlanta Monthly Meeting will pay an hourly
living wage to its employees and contractors. We believe that everyone
should be able to earn at a rate that meets his or her basic needs. We
will pay an hourly living wage to our employees and will require our
contractors to pay an hourly living wage for projects for the Meeting.
We will prefer that an hourly living wage will be paid to
subcontractors as well. Following research used by the Georgia Living
Wage Coalition, the Meeting will pay per hour and require payment of at
least the "Self-Sufficiency Standard" per hour for a single individual
living in DeKalb County. In 2006 this amount was $12.47 per hour. Each
year, the Meeting will adjust the amount based on the annual change in
the Social Security Administration Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
For 2007, this COLA is 3.3 percent, so the 2007 living wage per hour
will be $12.88.
When the Meeting asks for a bid on a proposed contract, we will require bidders to include enough funds in the bid to pay at least the Self-Sufficiency Standard per hour for all direct employees who will work on the job. We will prefer contractors whose subcontractors will pay the Self-Sufficiency Standard per hour. As part of their agreement with the Meeting, contractors will agree in writing to pay at least the Self-Sufficiency Standard per hour for a single individual living in DeKalb County. - September 2001: Atlanta Friends Meeting (Quakers)
expresses its support of those who are conscientiously opposed to war
taxes, in keeping with our more than 350 year religious witness for
peace and our historical peace testimony that: "We do utterly deny all
outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end
or under any pretense whatsoever." We ask that our elected officials
support and work for the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act
(currently HR 1186) as a way of recognizing our deep commitment to
peace and social justice. We thank Representative John Lewis for
introducing this legislation and ask all U.S. Congressional
Representatives to join in co-sponsorship of the bill.
HR 1186 will allow legally defined conscientious objectors to pay 100% of their taxes into a separate fund that will be used only for government spending that is not for a military purpose. The level of contribution to this fund will be annually entered into the Congressional Record, and information about the fund will be published in both the tax return form and the instruction booklet. The apportionment powers of Congress will not be restricted while relief of suffering will be granted to tens of thousands otherwise not able to earn above the taxable level of income or otherwise forced to refuse payment of taxes.
We further request that this Minute be published broadly, including that it be brought by our SAYMA representatives to SAYMA Representative Meeting for placement on the business agenda for the 2002 annual SAYMA gathering. - July 1990: Consistent with the principle of One Standard of Truth, The Atlanta Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends conducts its business honestly and openly. All decisions of the Meeting are open to the public and the general press. The Meeting welcomes news coverage of all of its activities, including the minute on marriage. On the other hand, we request that the press respect the privacy of individuals involved with some sensitive issues.
In our Meetings for Worship with Attention to Business, we often make public statements, called Minutes. Because we do all business by consensus, these Minutes represent the unanimous will of our entire community.