A convention of 1300 fast food workers just met outside Chicago, Illinois determined to lift their campaign for liveable wages of at least $15 from the minimum wages and poverty wages they make now.
In doing so they provided leadership for the rest of America.
Still refusing to follow the unproductive traditional government sponsored protocol, they voted to step up nonviolent civil disobedience, showing the kind of direct action that is needed all across America by workers in industry after industry and in local struggle after local struggle.
Local groups will decide what exactly they do, but the range of tactics available to them are very broad.
It is essential that more unions, faith groups, and other people of goodwill step up their solidarity, go to jail with these workers, and help spread this fight into the movement we so desperately need for a just economy and justice for all workers.
The President and the Democrats in Congress are pushing for a minimum wage of $10.10 an hour. Everyone should know that is not close to what our people need. We need at least $15 an hour indexed (or tied) to the cost of living so that the lives of kids, families, and individuals are not political footballs.
Raising and indexing the minimum wage are the least we can do about income inequality. I’m no longer sure that all who say they want to reduce inequality really do. Another study just out has shown that raising the minimum wage would increase jobs by increasing consumer demand. There is no logical nor objective reason not to follow these fast food workers and raise the minimum wage immediately.
More to come.
Photo source: @RaiseUpfor15