The energy was high at the latest public forum on the minimum wage campaign, with the Workers' Action Centre's Samba Squad opening the event with drums and music, leading the crowd with chants of "Fair Wages Now!"
The first speaker was Janah Bailey from Fight for 15, a 21-year-old worker at Wendy's in Chicago and the sole breadwinner for her family. She depends on public assistance and food stamps while holding down two jobs. When people have to depend on public assistance it costs the country around $7 billion, she said, and this $7 billion, which comes from her tax dollars, can be given to the workers.
Fast food is a $200 billion industry, while retail is a $4.7 billion industry and these industries make a profit. She said that the majority of job growth in the next decade will come from fast food, retail, and other low waged jobs. In Chicago, an adult with one child needs to be earning $20.86 an hour full-time to survive.
To date there have been four strikes and 15 public protests around the minimum wage. The demand is to earn $15 an hour and the right to form a union without retaliation. The strikes in Chicago inspired other cities to act, such as Detroit, Milwaukee, and St. Louis. More than 100 cities went on strike on December 5, 2013.
Despite some negativity, such as being called "psycho" for suggesting $15 an hour, that workers don't deserve the wage increase, being told that minimum wage work is a college student's job, and that the "Big Mac will increase in price if the wage is increased", all the hard work by Fight for 15 was not for naught. The victories were wage increases, promotions, and increased hours of work.
The three main actions that Chicago took, and what she suggests for the campaign in Ontario, are:
- develop worker leaders who don't mind stepping up
- be loud in public: for example, going to retail stores to see who is who there, show you care, and find out who is the manager
- and stand in solidarity with each other.
The second speaker was Sterling Harders from Working Washington who spoke on winning the $15 minimum wage at the SeaTac airport. She said that 10 years ago they had good union jobs and benefits until the airlines subcontracted the work, hence them making minimum wage. The workers had had enough and took the issue to the citizens. They got a lot of signatures, and the result was the increase to $15 an hour. She believes that Ontario will be victorious and that it can be done.
The general consensus was that the minimum wage must be at a level that does not leave workers in poverty, and that the government should put money in the hands of people who will spend it. It is time to step up and step out.
The air was filled with hope as people left for the evening. The next action day will be February 14. Visit Raise the Minimum Wage for updates.
