Will You Stand Up Against Wage Theft?
Alex is a concrete worker in Nashville. Five years ago, Alex and his crew poured long days into laying concrete at a local public school and a university campus. But when the job was done, they did not receive the pay they were owed.
Invoices went unanswered. Phone calls were ignored. As a small business owner, Alex couldn’t afford a lawyer. As a subcontractor working in a system with multiple layers of contractors, he was left waiting—ultimately owed nearly $50,000 in back pay and withheld wages. To make sure his employees got paid, Alex had to take out a personal loan.
(Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash)
When the Catholic Labor Network learned that Alex was Catholic and active in his parish, we stepped in. We connected him with his pastor, who joined with others to publicly support Alex when he confronted the school board and contractors. Sadly, even with broad support, Alex was never paid in full.
Stories like Alex’s are not rare. Wage theft is one of the most common forms of worker exploitation in our country. It robs workers and families of their paychecks, steals their time, and violates their God-given dignity.
The Catholic Labor Network has members across the country ready to help workers like Alex and his crew. But our reach and capacity are limited. That’s why we are launching our first-ever fundraising campaign: A Labor of Love.
A Campaign to Revive, Renew, and Reignite
Our goal is to raise $150,000 to:
✝️ Revive the Church’s labor ministry
✝️ Renew our God-given vocation to work
✝️ Reignite Catholic solidarity among all workers
This campaign is not just about funding programs—it’s about ensuring that the Church continues to stand with workers, both in moments of struggle and in building a more just future.
Throughout the month of September following Labor Day, we give special thanks for the gift of work—and for every worker whose labor feeds our families, builds our schools, and sustains our communities.
👉 Will you join us in this labor of love? Your prayers, your passion, and your donation today will help us serve workers like Alex and defend the dignity of all who labor.
Together, we can revive the Church’s prophetic voice on labor and ensure that no worker is forgotten.