As Americans are finishing the war against COVID-19 pandemic, a new war seems to be heating up.
As those in the media would call it, “Striketober” is making itself out to be more than just phase.
Workers across the nation are starting to go on strike; as more than 10,000 workers from John Deere, a company known for its manufacturing of farm machinery and industrialized equipment, are starting to go on strike due to their contract disputes. Workers from John Deere are not alone in this fight, as more than 24,000 health care workers at Kaiser Permanente and about 60,000 workers for Hollywood and another couple thousand workers for Kellogg and Nabisco, as workers are demanding more from their bosses.
Chuck Browning, vice president and director of the United Auto Worker’s Agricultural Implement Department said, “Our members at John Deere strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules, and he is right; workers rights need to be met.”
Corporations as well as politicians need to be held accountable for their shortcomings when it comes to taking care of the American workforce. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25, and while some corporations pay over this amount, it is still not enough.tThe solution is right in front of us and that is to increase the federal minimum wage immediately.
Earlier this year a $15 an hour minimum wage by 2025 was discussed and I fully believe this is a needed first step into fixing the problems that exist within the American workforce, as workers are struggling to make ends meet but corporations keep getting wealthier by the second. A $15 per hour minimum wage is a needed reform, as it would not only improve the workers of America by putting more money in their pockets, especially women and minorities that are disproportionately underpaid, but a higher wage would also improve those at the top as well, since extra money would be used to pay off rent, car payments, household expenses and other material goods sold and produced by those at the top.
This is not just the only way, it is a popular way too, according to a Pew Research Center poll; 62% of Americans support a $15 federal minimum wage, and those 38% who oppose, a large majority (71%) agree that the minimum wage should be increased but less than the $15 proposed. This proposal is also strongly supported by lower income workers at 72%, and is even supported by close to half of Republicans who traditionally oppose a higher minimum wage at 46%, well above the national average and wealthier Republicans.
It is time for the government to listen up and help our workers put away their picket signs, and help their demands be met for their hard work and take the first step in increasing their wages.
Photo from Flickr
