From the time Fight for $15 began in 2012, critics have warned of the repercussions of a $15 minimum wage: self-service kiosks replacing the hourly workforce, reduced hours of operation, eliminating staff positions, and the closure of small businesses. Study after study over the past four years show us that all these worries have come to light. And yet, the fight continues. Just last month workers gathered in 340 cities and 20 airports in Fight for 15 protests. Most of the protesters, at least at Chicago O’Hare, were wearing SEIU purple. The World Socialist Web Site made an interesting comment about this day of protests:
While the workers’ grievances are entirely legitimate, the SEIU’s claim to fight for them is a complete fraud. Far from actually fighting for increased living standards for workers, the campaign is aimed at getting a foot in the door for the SEIU so it can collect dues from these highly exploited layers and ensure their own position as junior partner to the bosses.
A proposed New York City law shows that they’re making headway in that arena. The law would require McDonald’s and other chains to “let workers send membership dues directly from their paychecks.” These membership dues would not technically go to unions, but rather to an independent third-party organization that could then “donate” the money back to groups like SEIU and the Fight for $15 movement. It’s important to note that not all businesses are accepting this movement without a fight. One group in Arizona filed a suit last week to block a voter-approved minimum wage increase from taking effect Jan. 1. For anyone interested in learning about the real effect this increase in the minimum wage is having on actual business owners and employees, check out this site.
