Is Twenty the new Fifteen?
It’s almost hard to remember that back in 2012 when fast food workers organized their first wave of strikes for “$15 and a union” how bold, even far-fetched “Fifteen” seemed. What were they thinking? (As it turns out, they were thinking that grown adults who work full time shouldn’t have to live in their cars or sweat buying groceries or school supplies for their kids…)
In 2013 when I was leading the Wage and Hour Division at DOL, I got to meet with minimum wage workers all over the country to hear their stories and ask what they would do with a raise. (At that moment, I kid you not, we were advocating to raise the federal minimum to $9 an hour.) From Pittsburgh to Minneapolis to San Antonio, from women and men, from janitors, fast food workers, barristas, who were white, African American, Latino here is what I heard: “I would buy fresh fruits and vegetables for my kids”, “I would go to the dentist” Many were working parents and some were moved to tears of frustration that their kids were in need or having to rely on programs. “I work hard and should be able to support my kids with what I earn.” It is a matter of pride and dignity, not just wages.
The stories and the needs are still the same, but thankfully, because of incredible organizing by courageous fast food workers like Terrance Wiseacting like a union and innovative campaigns starting with Seattleraising their minimum wage to $15 an hour and catapulting a wave of cities and states doing the same, Fifteen has become the new normal. A new $15 federal minimum wage has been introduced and I am not worried that a few moderate Democrats think this is too high — in time they will hear from real folks in their districts and states and as the visionary Congresswoman Pramila Jayarpal says Dems need to lead on the minimum wage. “Nine” was eclipsed by a wave of winning campaigns for Fifteen and the compelling stories of hard working people. And by major employers — first Target and now even Amazonraising starting wages to Fifteen.
And now the delicious move of Bank of America putting Amazon to shame and raising starting wages to $20 an hour. Because let’s be honest — Amazon workers are contributing plenty to Amazon’s value and Amazon can afford to pay that (or more). AND as bold as this once seemed, living on Fifteen an hour is no picnic. $15 an hour (if you can get full time hours) means about $1840 take home pay a month and just rent in DC for a modest apartment is $1500–2000 a month. Try it — take a look at your own family budget and try to imagine what you would do without — your cell phone?, your kids’ school lunch? The electric bill? Seriously, try it.
My new hero Congressman Katie Porter laid it outin her brilliant questioning of Jamie Dimon this month — her constituent who works hard for JPMorgan Chase makes a little more than Fifteen ($35,070 a year) and is still short $600 a month on basic expenses — more if she needs to spend on medicine or clothes for herself or her child.
So hats off to Bank of America for raising the bar — AND the great organizing all over the country that has both raised wages for 22 million workersand created a new norm for fair wages and a climate where more businesses see the value of investing in their most valuable asset: their people.
Maybe Twenty is the new Fifteen?!
