The America Needs Unions town hall series continued yesterday in Miami, with seven candidates for office joining adjuncts and fast-food workers to discuss the struggles working people face today.
64 million workers are paid less than $15/hour, holding back entire communities. These low-quality jobs put enormous stresses on ordinary families and weaken the social fabric of communities. In America, we know that unions are the best way for workers to move up and do better.
Miami-area workers gathered together to put tough questions to candidates about wages, unions, and workers rights. Where do the candidates stand?
Team @MayorLevine for Governor talking to voters last night at the @seiufl and @FightFor15FL America Needs Unions Townhall. Enough of the attacks on union workers, it's time to protect them and #FightFor15 #union #FloridaFreedom @rach_eliza_swin pic.twitter.com/EJZkGbeNSJ
— Chris Hudtwalcker (@coque9) June 1, 2018
I support the #FightFor15 movement and unions because America NEEDS to fix the standard for living in this country and I am one step towards that. Join me in this fight #AmericaNeedsUnions
— Ray Peña 4 Congress (@Ray4FL15) June 1, 2018
People in Miami are among the 64 million working Americans who make less than $15/hr. Unions give regular people the strength in numbers to move up and do better. #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/GsIDBvLIz1
— Demetries Grimes (@GrimesCongress) June 1, 2018
Standing STRONG with labor (sorry we had a typo earlier). #union #werisetogether pic.twitter.com/0PSJAjIEHx
— KristenRosenGonzalez (@rosengonzalez) June 1, 2018
Workers started by sharing their stories of trying to get by on low wages — and pointed to unions as the answer:
"The situation is worse than politicians admit. The #FightFor15 is a matter of life and death… " Elizabeth Judd @AFSCMEFL #union pic.twitter.com/HFroEAgkSy
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) May 31, 2018
"My son asked me for $5 and I had to look him in the eye and tell him I didn't have it. He inspires me to #FightFor15 & a #union." – @McDonalds worker tells candidates in Miami
— Jamie Way (@JamieMWay) May 31, 2018
Laura Pierre works at Chipolte and sometimes needs a 2nd job: "my story is not unique…It gives me anxiety, people shouldn't have to live like this.
When there is no strong #union it's almost impossible for underpaid workers to survive" #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/wqJ2anJXgF
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) May 31, 2018
Why we need good, #union jobs: "I have a family of 6, but every year I make around just $14K. How do we survive? Thank God for food banks." – Harold, adjunct at Miami Dade College #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/WvLEBX9gAN
— Faculty Forward (@FacultyForward) May 31, 2018
The candidates answered questions, shared their own union stories, and agreed — we need to push for policies that empower workers to organize and make unions stronger:
"My mother lived in poverty, I've been a public advocate for the #FightFor15 for years… we need to protect our unions, we need to allow collective bargaining and that is being threatened" @debbieforfl #union pic.twitter.com/0vKyR8ych8
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) May 31, 2018
"I started my career as a teacher: we have to raise the minimum wage at the federal level, we have to make sure unions are protected at the fed level, but we also have to pressure the states…the American dream cannot be achieved without a #union label"@donnashalala #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/ShY6eKIQbo
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) May 31, 2018
"I am a #union member..I've helped workers unionize, right now I'm helping housekeepers in Miami have panic buttons… I voted to raise the minimum wage but we were preempted at the state level" @rosengonzalez #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/nuhBQ8UxIB
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) May 31, 2018
"I'm a former adjunct professor, so I understand that struggle… I made minimum wage. My mom works in early childhood education. If someone doesn't #FightFor15 we need to replace them" @votehepburn pic.twitter.com/oPZQhQP7Q4
— Fight for 15 Florida (@FightFor15FL) May 31, 2018
Watch the full town hall here:
America Needs Unions Town Hall – Miami
We're live in Miami with the second in the America Needs Unions Town Hall series with candidates Demetries Andrew Grimes, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Mary Barzee Flores, Commissioner Kristen Gonzalez, Dr. Donna Shalala, Michael Hepburn, and Matthew Haggman!America needs unions! #FightFor15 #Union
Posted by Fight for 15 Florida on Thursday, May 31, 2018