A hotel maid, secretaries and an unemployed worker were among those who shared the spotlight with author Barbara Ehrenreich at a program about the difficulties facing low-wage workers.
Ehrenreich's new book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, gives a first-person account of working $7-an-hour jobs in Florida, Maine and Minnesota. Since its publication, she's done numerous interviews and public appearances, was featured on the Oprah Winfrey show and met with members of Congress. But, she told the workers, "being here today is the biggest honor of all for me."
The sponsors of the May 22 program included the JOBS NOW Coalition, which released its latest study on the cost of living in Minnesota, and UFCW Local 789, which announced a new organizing drive that will target large retailers.
Describing the struggle
A large crowd packed the main hall of the St. Paul Labor Centre as several workers and representatives of community organizations described the struggles they face in their daily lives.
Florida McHenry cleans rooms at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel and is a member of Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Local 17. Even after four years on the job, she finds it tough to make ends meet and to get respect from management, she said.
Bernetta Kambeitz, a clerical worker at the University of Minnesota, said that "after 20 years and eight months, I still have to work two part-time jobs." Added another clerical worker, Debra Clemente, "many of us are just struggling to make ends meet."
Tim Landers was unable to work after his car was hit by a truck running a red light. He is frustrated by the lack of livable wage jobs and affordable housing. Every month, he scrambles to come up with enough money to pay the rent.
Landers is active in the Jobs and Affordable Housing Campaign. "We ain't going to sit here and continue to watch this happen," he said. "We ain't going to sit back and watch the rich get richer and the poor getting poorer."
Discussing solutions
Among the solutions the speakers discussed were the need for government to allocate more money for housing, to overturn so-called welfare "reform" and to pass - and enforce - livable wage laws.
Noted Ehrenreich: "There is something very wrong when people work full-time year-round and do not make enough to live on and do not get respect for all the work they do."
Sponsors of the event were the JOBS NOW Coalition, the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly, the Jobs and Affordable Housing Campaign, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 789, Welfare Rights Committee, Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Local 17, Minnesota ACORN, Minnesota Farmers Union and the AFSCME locals at the University of Minnesota representing health care, clerical and technical workers.
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A hotel maid, secretaries and an unemployed worker were among those who shared the spotlight with author Barbara Ehrenreich at a program about the difficulties facing low-wage workers.
Ehrenreich’s new book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, gives a first-person account of working $7-an-hour jobs in Florida, Maine and Minnesota. Since its publication, she’s done numerous interviews and public appearances, was featured on the Oprah Winfrey show and met with members of Congress. But, she told the workers, “being here today is the biggest honor of all for me.”
The sponsors of the May 22 program included the JOBS NOW Coalition, which released its latest study on the cost of living in Minnesota, and UFCW Local 789, which announced a new organizing drive that will target large retailers.
Describing the struggle
A large crowd packed the main hall of the St. Paul Labor Centre as several workers and representatives of community organizations described the struggles they face in their daily lives.
Florida McHenry cleans rooms at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel and is a member of Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Local 17. Even after four years on the job, she finds it tough to make ends meet and to get respect from management, she said.
Bernetta Kambeitz, a clerical worker at the University of Minnesota, said that “after 20 years and eight months, I still have to work two part-time jobs.” Added another clerical worker, Debra Clemente, “many of us are just struggling to make ends meet.”
Tim Landers was unable to work after his car was hit by a truck running a red light. He is frustrated by the lack of livable wage jobs and affordable housing. Every month, he scrambles to come up with enough money to pay the rent.
Landers is active in the Jobs and Affordable Housing Campaign. “We ain’t going to sit here and continue to watch this happen,” he said. “We ain’t going to sit back and watch the rich get richer and the poor getting poorer.”
Discussing solutions
Among the solutions the speakers discussed were the need for government to allocate more money for housing, to overturn so-called welfare “reform” and to pass – and enforce – livable wage laws.
Noted Ehrenreich: “There is something very wrong when people work full-time year-round and do not make enough to live on and do not get respect for all the work they do.”
Sponsors of the event were the JOBS NOW Coalition, the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly, the Jobs and Affordable Housing Campaign, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 789, Welfare Rights Committee, Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Local 17, Minnesota ACORN, Minnesota Farmers Union and the AFSCME locals at the University of Minnesota representing health care, clerical and technical workers.