About 50,000 low wage workers, their unions, clergy, and other allies across America rallied, marched, walked out on strike and demonstrated for doubling the minimum wage.
In Philly the iconic 1199 flags flapped in the soft spring breeze beneath a sun just warm enough to make union and community organization t-shirts comfortable. Besides President Nicholas, most of the speakers were low wage workers, including healthcare workers recruited by 1199, graduate university workers and, of course, the courageous fast food workers who started it all.
The Fight for $15 Campaign started with fast food workers going on short wildcat strikes in a few cities for raises and other local issues. As the campaign spread to more cities, more fast food workers from more chains joined the campaign with lightning lunchtime strikes and rallies. The Service Employees International Union stepped up to offer technical support and organizing.
Now the campaign threatens to become a real social movement, with more and more workers, unions, clergy, and community organizations getting involved.
The workers and their allies reject President Obama and the Congressional Democrats’ call for a $10 an hour minimum wage for being too low.
Support for an increase in the minimum wage polls at almost 80 percent across both parties and all demographics. The Fight for $15 is sure to create an election issue, in part because of the actions of the workers. Of course the radical right-wing Republicans are determined to stop any increase in the minimum wage.
One huge question is whether Democrats will opt to make a significant dent in wage and income inequality by pushing for the $15 minimum wage in place of a $10 minimum wage.
The second unanswered question is whether this growing movement will take on a global dimension delivering much more power to the workers’ demand.