Today, July 14, we joined Episcopal Network for Economic Justice for a Prayer Vigil and march in solidarity with Disneyland hotel workers. After blessings and short speeches by Bishops Jon Bruno, Gene Robinson, and a former Bishop of Mexico, we took our Unite/DisneyBeFaithful picket signs and marched with hundreds of struggling hotel workers and local union activists to the entrance of the amusement park.
For eighteen months, the workers have not had contracts due to the company's proposals to increase part time positions and to increase the cost and eligibility to these low wage workers for health care benefits, which could cost up to $500 per month. For one of the richest companies in the land, this act of corporate greed is inexcusable. It was reported that CEO Robert Iger made $30.6 million in 2008, and despite the recession, Disney reported a net income of $1.46 billion for the first half of fiscal year 2009. It can afford to care for those who made its financial success possible!
Many priests and lay attendants of the General Convention joined the vibrant chanters led by Episcopal priest and CLUE leader Henry Atkins and Bishops Barbara Harris, Greg Rickel, and Chip Marble. Over 30 supporters and labor organizations, including UAW, steel workers, teachers, LA airport workers, other local hotel and Anaheim/Orange County employees joined in solidarity with the Disney hotel workers. One such worker, a Disney bartender of over twenty years, spoke in the exhibit hall on Monday. She feels betrayed after two decades of loyal commitment and seniority. She did not think it fair to have to find a second job to make a living, or to have to choose between paying rent or seeing a doctor. She put a face to the issues.
It was moving for us to put into action the inspiration given us all week in Convention. Ubuntu! I in you and you in me.
My "pet" resolutions on economic justice and Jubilee are behind me now. Some, like the one to fund our justice network and its distribution of vast resources, were never brought out of the Social and Urban Affairs Committee. The one for alleviating poverty was strongly endorsed and adopted but not funded yet. Another to provide grants to Jubilee Centers like CVEM was adopted by both Houses. This one was adopted in a clump of resolutions. I had actually prepared a two-minute endorsement of Jubilee support to speak on the "floor", so I felt a bit disappointed when it slid by.
In the meanwhile, many resolutions were passed with funding not already listed in the draft budget, whose final version went to press on Sunday night. Soon we will see more clearly how serious the shortfall (estimated at $17 million) may be for the next three years. Many, many programs are not funded as usual.
Since Day 1 there has been a tent card at my place on the "floor": "A Daugther of the King has prayed over your seat." I thought, "How sweet." Today, Day 8, I picked it up and brought it home, knowing that praying is what DOK does best. I'm grateful for the prayers I hear and for the prayers we recite and for those we keep within. There are far too many sensitive resolutions, canons, church calendars, organizations, budgets around which people are passionate for us NOT to pray. "Oh Lord, you'll have to direct me on this one...or that one!"
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