As Holiday Season Approaches, Religious Task Force for a Living Wage Calls on Borders and Barnes and Noble Bookstores in Ithaca to Pay a Living Wage

(Ithaca) The Tompkins County Religious Task Force for a Living Wage today called on two area bookstores, Borders and Barnes and Noble, to join other area bookstore businesses in agreeing to pay employees a Living Wage. The Tompkins County Living Wage, the minimum amount of income and resources required to meet a single person’s basic needs, is $11.11/hour plus health insurance.

Autumn Leaves Used Books and Buffalo Street Books, two locally owned book stores already pay a Living Wage, as do many other Tompkins County businesses, non profits, government agencies and houses of worship. The Religious Task Force is asking community members to send postcards to Borders and Barnes and Noble urging these local businesses to pay a Living Wage.

“These bookstores are more than just retail outlets”, says Pastor Rich Rose of the First Baptist Church in Ithaca. “These bookstores are community gathering places, a hangout spot, integral parts of the community. What employees are expected and required to do moves into the area of community service. That service that folks provide should be adequately compensated with a Living Wage.”

The Tompkins County Religious Task Force for a Living Wage is collaboration between a group of religious leaders representing various faith-based groups in Tompkins County, Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga and the Tompkins County Workers’ Center. The Religious Task Force educates, organizes, and conducts outreach among people of faith, calling on all people to respond to the need for economic justice in our community.

For more information on the Tompkins County Living Wage Employer program visit www.TCWorkersCenter.org/employer.