The Workers' Alliance for a Just Economy (WAJE) aims to create meaningful economic opportunities, improve working
conditions and increase wages nationally. We believe that access to
good jobs, living wages, safe working conditions and dignified
treatment for workers is fundamentally important to the health and
prosperity of our economy, our communities and the country. We will
improve the standard of living across the economic spectrum by ensuring
that all workers earn enough to meet their daily needs and to support
their families, and that basic labor laws are vigorously enforced.
The fact that the economy has become increasingly integrated on a
global scale provides a renewed opportunity to recognize the
interdependence of all who work and share in our economy.
Unfortunately, this period of increased global economic integration has
thus far largely been driven by the law of profit, individual
self-interest and greed. This has led to the increased exploitation of
workers around the world, the marginalization of certain sectors of
society from dignified employment opportunities, forced migration for
economic reasons and development that is neither locally nor
environmentally sustainable. In the face of such realities, we commit
ourselves to constructing an economy that serves the common good of
humanity, where abundance is shared among all and the dignity of
working people is affirmed.
Based on this vision, we affirm the following principles:
- Working people should have a right to dignity, respect and fairness on
the job. This includes living wages, safe and healthy working
conditions, equality of opportunity, and flexibility and respect for
family and community responsibilities.
- Working people should be encouraged and educated about their
right to organize, so as to engage in collective action or bargaining,
and be free from interference, intimidation or retaliation when they do
so.
- Working people should have access to high quality education and
training at every stage of life to aid their development both
personally and professionally, and improve their employment prospects.
- Working people and community residents should determine the
planning and implementation of economic development projects in their
communities, to ensure that such projects benefit the common good.
- Policies should favor cooperative ventures over individual
ownership in order to give workers and all communities greater access
to the generation of wealth.
