The United States congress has linked federal minimum wage legislation to the bill for the Iraq war - and a number of faith and labour leaders are upset about it, including the head of the ecumenical council.

Campaigners who are part of a London-wide citizens organisation, which brings together a wide range of community and faith groups, held a demonstration at the end of last week, calling for fair pay for workers involved in preparing for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign, a national US coalition of 91 religious, labour and community organizations, has thanked the Senate for voting to raise the minimum wage for the first time in many years.

The Rev Clifton Kirkpatrick, who moderates the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is urging fast-food giant Burger King to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to address wages and working conditions in the tomato fields.

Let Justice Roll, a nonpartisan coalition of ninety faith and community organizations in the USA, has sent a 'living wage' letter to members of the newly constituted Congress - signed by more than 1,000 Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders from across the country.

A church report entitled 'Faithful Cities' (click to go to the report) is to be launched today, expected to criticise government over asylum, immigration and the minimum wage.

The Church of England is to accuse the government of forcing asylum seekers into destitution and setting the minimum wage too low to relieve poverty, reports the Sunday Times.