The lowest paid and most vulnerable amongst us are leading the way, out on point for a more just America and an economy that can provide jobs that sustain families.
Fast food workers in 150 cities struck recently and took nonviolent civil disobedience action to protest low pay and demand a $15 minimum wage.
Doubling the minimum wage is a critical part of the overall strategy to lower income and wealth inequality in America. While wages for average Americans have fallen over the last 35 years, income and wealth for the top tier of our society have shot up, forcing families out of the middle class and into poverty. This has lowered consumer demand, keeping America trapped in the awful Great Recession that has hurt so many of us so very much.
America desperately needs a collective demand from the bottom up. Our economy needs to be changed so that it works for everyone.
We must demand that the income of the rich be taxed at the same rate as everyone else to fund investment in America and good jobs.
We must restore the right to organize and bargain collectively.
And we must strike to double the minimum wage.
Fast food workers have begun that demand building now for many months toward nonviolent civil disobedience in 150 cities that shut down restaurants and streets all over America.
The importance of the action by fast food workers cannot be overstated. It is critical for all of us.
So fast food workers have confronted the rest of us with the question many of us will live with the rest of our lives–What will you do? What role will you play in this pivotal moment for America? And as the haunting labor hymn asks, “which side are you on?”
In a partial answer to those questions, the Service Employees International Union has called for home care workers to join the fight to double the minimum wage.
Laughingly, a spokesman for the Koch Brothers (who seek to replace democracy with oligarchy) called the movement for a more decent wage fascist. When in truth, the movement is central to saving democracy in America.
Photo source: fightfor15.wordpress.com