This May Day, rather than focus on the legitimate grievances against corporate power and inequality, I would like to reflect on the unimaginable progress of the workers movement in the US and around the world. Three years ago, some rag tag hippies occupied a park and assailed the elite for stealing our economy, society, and politics. Many critics said the movement achieved nothing. Within weeks, inequality became the dominant political conservation. Today, the #1 bestseller on Amazon isnt a self-help book or a novel about vampires, but a 700-page tome about inequality. When people protested outside Walmart stores on Black Friday two years ago, the company dismissed them. Now Walmart sales are plunging while their competitors which pay better wages and benefits are thriving. It appears the low-wage business model has entered its terminal phase. While theres been little progress at the federal level, three states have already passed a $10.10 minimum wage, and today Seattle raised its minimum wage to $15. 71% of Americans support raising the wage, and so do 6 in 10 small business owners. We are witnessing a profound cultural rupture because the people are impoverished and not represented by their governments--this will soon manifest in another worldwide wave of political upheaval. Across the world today, millions of people are protesting austerity. In China, the largest strike in 35 years has shut down Nikes factories. We are not going to win. We are winning. Today, workers of the world have a lot to be angry about, and a lot to celebrate. Happy May Day and Solidarity!
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 19:38:44 +0000