A Word from the Wise: Union

Terrence Wise reports at 7 a.m. for the breakfast shift at McDonalds. He serves biscuits and burritos, preps and works lunch, clocks out at 3 p.m., then takes two buses to get across town to start his shift at Burger King. He is 35 years old.

When I ask why he is part of the “Fight for $15” – a growing movement to give fast food workers the wages, benefits, and representation that will put them on the path to the middle-class – he talks about his three children and the better life he wants to make for them. Terrence is clear:

It’s not just the higher wage he’s fighting for; it’s a union, too.

Terrence is one of an incredible group of leaders that are building their union and leading the fight for higher wages. They gathered in Detroit this past weekend, 1200 strong, with banners ringing the room from the many delegations: Los Angeles, St Louis, Little Rock, New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville and more. Fast food workers – young and old; black, brown and white; kids and grandkids on hips – crowded into the Cobo Convention center to talk in small groups and plan for the next phase of how they “have each other’s back.”

The place hummed with the energy of well over a thousand people coming together to create change, to discover themselves and each other, to find their voice. The mood was both urgent and festive. T-shirts throughout the hall proclaimed: “WE ARE WORTH MORE!” and “ON STRIKE TO LIFT UP MY FAMILY.”

Terrence Wise is aptly named, but the leaders of the National Organizing Committee – Tina, Elba, Rebecca, Anna, Laura, Mya, Ashona, Letonya and Lawanda – were all speaking truth. There was profound truth in their big smiles and pride in what they are doing – overcoming their fears, building community with each other and acting with courage to make their lives better. There was truth in their tears as they described how impossible it is to make it on their small paychecks. Ask them what they would do with the raise they deserve and they’ll tell you: “Groceries, medicine, pay the electric bill on time, spend more time with my son, help my mom buy basics for my little sisters, stay out of rent court, go to the dentist.”

Many of these folks are working two hard jobs to provide for their kids. One 18-year-old (hardly getting a chance to be a kid herself) is using her entire paycheck to help her mom cover the bills. Older workers are asking: How is it I give 14 years of service to a company, showing up day after day even when I’m not feeling well, and still am only worth $8 an hour to them?

They were also speaking with pride about the jobs they do and doing them well; the skill and care that it takes to provide good customer service – “sending people away with a smile.” Pride in their own leadership; “this is about all of us; if we don’t do this, who’s gonna do this?”

They are building something new that turns on its head many people’s stereotypes of what unions are and to whom they give a voice. Only a few years ago, many questioned if unions’ time had simply passed.

But fast food workers are showing that coming together to form unions is still how workers can raise their voices and win concrete victories that none of them have the power to achieve by going it alone. They have mobilized, organized, and changed our national conversation about wages, reasonable schedules and work hours, and paid sick days.

What they’re demanding above all is respect. They want to be treated as if their lives and their families’ lives matter.

These folks have grit; recognized by President Obama when he gave fast food workers a shout out on Labor Day in Milwaukee last year:

“If I were busting my butt in the service industry and wanted an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work, I’d join a union.”

That’s exactly what these folks are doing. And because they are in motion together, now they have hope.

They are also innovating a new way forward. They’re not waiting for labor laws to catch up to the 21st-century workplace before they state their demands. Although it is unclear yet what protection the law affords them, as long as they have the courage that comes from acting together, they’re willing to take risks every day to build a better future for their families. They’re inspiring a new generation of activism, with customers, students and supporters joining workers of all ages to improve real people’s lives and to build a sustainable organization to win lasting change. “I believe that we will win!” they sang and chanted.

A word to the wise: we ALL win when these brave workers win.

Originally published June 16, 2015.