Did you know that the productivity of the American workforce has climbed nearly 25 percent since 2000?
In honor of Labor Day, let’s celebrate this incredible productivity growth! At the same time, let’s acknowledge we need serious change in the U.S. and fast. Data clearly show: there’s an ever-widening gap in income disparity in America.
While American workers have increased productivity, wages have remained flat. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) has published a series of papers examining the issue, most recently highlighting the fact that many workers have endured weak wage growth for more than three decades. (Check out http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/state-wages-and-pay-remain-flat.html to learn about the wages in your state.)
One consequence? Child Hunger
Today, 1 in 4 children in the United States are living food insecure. Amazingly, this fall as our school doors opened our educators needed to be as concerned about feeding our children as educating them.
I got teary-eyed last week reading about how a Maryland educator was grading exams for the Maryland School Assessment test a few years ago and found, “Can’t think. Don’t care.” written across one of the test papers. He asked the student about the test, and the answer was clear: he was just too hungry to think and too hungry to care . –Sean McElhaney, Principal, Old Mill Middle School North – Millersville, Maryland ( http://www.nokidhungry.org )
Sharing: Low Pay Is Not Okay
Below is an email from Nancy Salgado of the organization Low Pay Is Not OK that I received on Friday, August 30. Nancy started a petition on the MoveOn website, where anyone can start their own online petition.
Yesterday, thousands of workers in cities across the country—including Saint Louis—went on a national strike against low pay. It’s incredible that they joined us. And it’s working.
By now, everyone knows that fast-food employees like me can’t make ends meet on $7.25 an hour or barely more. They know how incredibly profitable, and out of touch, the corporations we work for are. They know—you know—that something has to change. Starting now.
I’m on strike from my job at McDonald’s to demand fair pay for hard work. I, and others like me, need your help to get the living wages we deserve. Help us send the fast-food chains we work for a message that they can’t ignore.
The petition to McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and Papa John’s says:
We have a huge economic problem in this country. It’s you and the rest of the fast-food industry.
Together, your restaurants employ millions of people. Millions of people, mostly adults, who can’t afford rent if they want to eat. Who can’t afford health care if they want to pay their bus fare. Millions of people, and more than 25% of them are parents who can’t afford school supplies if they have to buy school shoes.
Last year your combined profits were $7.35 billion. Yet you still paid most of your workers less than $11,200 a year—poverty wages. It’s shameful. And outrageous.
We’re speaking out together because it has to change. We’re rising up as Americans to say it’s no longer a matter of WHETHER you will raise wages; it’s a matter of WHEN. Your companies can do this right now—you have the power to raise wages for your workers today.
Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.
Thanks!
–Nancy Salgado
Enjoy Labor Day
We have much to be proud of — American innovation, industriousness and spirit — and the belief that dignity comes with work. As we also marked the 50th anniversary of our historic March on Washington last week, I watched the old footage, marchers holding signs that read: “Civil Rights + Full Employment = Freedom.”
We’re still working on that dream. Today, full employment does not necessarily mean full bellies for our children.
Enjoy Labor Day and let’s all renew ourselves for the actions needed next.
My best wishes for a safe holiday!
–Jone
