Houston, TX – Over 20 activists protested outside of Wal-Mart in Memorial Heights, Nov. 27, to stand with low-wage workers in their struggle to for a $15 wage, health benefits and a pension. Wal-Mart is one of the most exploitative companies in the U.S. It pays its workers almost nothing, provides them with few benefits and makes them work under the constant threat of being fired. The protest was organized by the National Organization for Women (NOW), which organizes the demonstration each year on Black Friday.

The activists, who protested at the entrance, chanted, “He, he, ho, ho, low wages have got to go,” and “Who's got the power, we've got the power, what kind of power, workers power!” A student with SDS had a beautiful sign that read, “Money for jobs, not for war,” and enthusiastically led the chants. At the rally, some discussed the limitations of the Fight for 15 Campaign and discussed the necessity for workers to form a union. When the SDS student at the rally started the chant, “What do we want? Union! When do we want it? Now!” many people joined in great excitement.

Chloe O'Connor, with Students for a Democratic Society, said, “It is great to see activists and workers standing up for higher wages across the country. However, I think it is very important for workers to form a union at Wal-Mart and win a contract. Without a union, workers may win a few reforms, but they can only ensure their victories if they struggle to form a union.”

#HoustonTX #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #Labor #WalMart #FightFor15

Houston, TX – Close to 1000 people protested outside of a busy McDonalds restaurant here, April 15, to demand a $15 per hour minimum wage. As the large crowd marched from the University of Houston, a dozen police on horseback lined the median of Elgin Street. Upon arriving to rally in the parking lot, 15 more police guarded the entrances to the McDonalds.

This was part of a national day of action in as many as 80 cities. Low-wage workers from across Houston came out to stand up to the bosses and demand $15 per hour in order to improve their lives. As they marched, they chanted, “We can't survive on 7.25!” People in the community waved in support.

“Working people in Houston cannot live on $7.25 per hour. Most low-wage workers have families to support and bills to pay, which the current minimum wage makes impossible. These big corporations that own McDonalds and other fast-food chains have plenty of money, and could easily pay their workers $15 per hour,” said Diana Barrera with Fight For 15.

Barrera continued, “Yet the bosses are more concerned with their profits than improving the living standards of their workers. We therefore are standing up to these corporations and will continue to fight until we get $15 per hour for all working people.”

Members of the Higher-Education Workers Association, a group that is organizing the low-paid adjunct professors in Houston, also rallied. Adjunct instructors are paid poverty level wages for the courses they teach, do not receive healthcare benefits or pensions, and have no job security. Each semester adjuncts struggle to fill their classrooms or else go without work. Many adjuncts must work a heavy course load to make ends meet. Many teach between fine and ten classes, working part time at two or more colleges instead of at one work place.

The Fight For 15 movement is growing across the country with support from many unions. With mass support building up, some city councils like Seattle will pass progressive minimum wage laws. However, for workers to win other benefits and respect long term, they will need to organize at the place of production and form unions. As the Fight For 15 movement continues to build, more workers are overcoming their fears and standing up to the bosses.

#HoustonTX #FightFor15

Tucson, AZ – Este pasado jueves 4 de Septiembre la ciudad de Tucson se integro al movimiento nacional “Fight for $15” o “La Lucha por el Sueldo Mínimo”. Este creciente movimiento obrero está luchando actualmente por el objetivo de sindicalizar a los trabajadores de la industria de comida rápida y lograr incrementar el salario mínimo a $15 dólares la hora. El Sindicato SEIU (Service Employees International Union por sus siglas en ingles) está jugando un papel fundamental para impulsar nacionalmente este movimiento; el cual ya tiene presencia y se encuentra activo en grandes ciudades tales como Nueva York, Chicago, Atlanta, entre otras.

La Ciudad de Tucson despertó a las 7 de la mañana con el grito de trabajadores y trabajadoras exigiendo el derecho que tienen trabajadores para formar un sindicato, y como seres humanos para cobrar un sueldo digno. La coalición local por el sueldo mínimo (“$15 now coalition” en ingles) se hizo cargo de organizar esta manifestación. La demostración se realizo frente a un Burger King en el Este de la ciudad, en donde más de 70 personas de organizaciones sociales, grupos comunitarios y religiosos acompañaron en solidaridad a la coalición y a los trabajadores y trabajadoras que estaban en huelga. Ethan Beasly miembro de la coalición dijo “Estamos aquí no solo para dar a conocer la realidad de miles de trabajadoras y trabajadores que son obligados a vivir con sueldos de pobreza mientras irónicamente trabajan día y noche, sino que también para que los patrones sepan que el movimiento está creciendo y que vamos a lograr nuestros objetivos.”

De igual modo la manifestación pudo contar con la presencia y apoyo de representantes gubernamentales locales y estatales como Richard Elias y Raul Grijalva.

Los trabajadores y trabajadoras de la industria de comida rápida son expuestos a muchos abusos por estas corporaciones ladronas. Corporaciones multinacionales como McDonald’s, Burger King y Wendy’s se apropian de miles de millones de dólares en ganancias anuales, pagándoles a sus directores ejecutivos salarios millonarios. Al mismo tiempo, los trabajadores y trabajadoras se ven obligados a sobrevivir con un miserable sueldo de $7.90 la hora, que no les alcanza ni para cubrir sus necesidades más básicas, y es por esta razón que se ven en la necesidad de buscar asistencia pública para poder sobrevivir y alimentar a sus familias. Por igual hay que mencionar que también se les niega horarios de tiempo completo precisamente para evitar pagarles beneficios de salud.

Es aquí donde reside la necesidad y obligación que tienen las trabajadoras y trabajadores de organizarse en un sindicato que pueda defender y luchar por sus intereses y beneficios en contra del patrón y su capital. La clase trabajadora es una sola, debemos unirnos y educarnos para poder seguir luchando por lo que verdaderamente nos merecemos, una vida digna. La lucha continua, que viva la clase trabajadora.

#TucsonAZ #SEIU #Strikes #FightFor15 #LuchaPor15 #salarioMinimo