St Thomas University in Miami 1st to receive Interfaith Fair Employer Seal of Approval
by The Florida Catholic Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at 12:29 PM

On Friday, October 17th St. Thomas University received the first Interfaith Fair Employer Seal of Approval Award, which recognizes institutions and businesses that respect the rights and dignity of their workers, specifically those which guarantee a minimum wage equal to or greater than Miami-Dade County’s living wage standard, currently $10.69 per hour plus benefits. The award was given during a lunch sponsored by the South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice.

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Msgr. Franklyn Casale, president of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens , holds up the Interfaith Fair Employer Seal of Approval Award given to him by Rabbi Solomon Schiff, who is standing in the background applauding. The university was the first to receive this new honor, which recognizes institutions and businesses that respect the rights and dignity of their workers, specifically those which guarantee a minimum wage equal to or greater than Miami-Dade County’s living wage standard, currently $10.69 per hour plus benefits. The award, given during a lunch sponsored by the South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice, is derived from the idea of a Kosher stamp, inferring adherence not to dietary laws but to moral and economic guidelines. The living wage has helped St. Thomas ’ service and contract workers provide their families with the basic needs of living in south Florida , said Selena Wright, who represents 20 workers affected by the policy. In accepting the award, Msgr. Casale said that St. Thomas was putting Catholic social teaching to work.

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