The #FightFor15 movement isn’t just about raising the minimum wage, David Rolf says. It’s about saving the American dream. That is the premise of his new book The Fight for Fifteen: The Right Wage for a Working America (New Press, $18), which he’ll be discussing at the Center for American Progress on Friday, April 29th from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Lydia DePillis, formerly of The Washington Post and soon to be with the Houston Chronicle, will moderate.
Rolf is the president of SEIU 775, which successfully fought for a $15 minimum wage in Seattle. He views the campaign as the key to keeping the U.S. from becoming a low wage nation, as well as in implementing a successful “middle-out” economic policy where a robust middle class of workers and consumers makes a strong economy, rather than wealth trickling down from the top.
D.C., which recorded a 35-year record-high wage gap last year, is in the midst of its own “Fight for $15.” A coalition of activist organizations and low-wage workers have been campaigning for a November ballot imitative to gradually raise the wage to $15 for all workers. Meanwhile Mayor Muriel Bowser announced her support for a $15 minimum wage last month, and recently revealed details of her own legislation that would increase the wage to $15 by 2020 for most workers, and $7.50 by 2022 for tipped workers.
Rolf explains how the nature of work and employment has changed in the past few decades. He sees too many workers as having too little bargaining power, due to part-time or temporary jobs that should be full-time, guest worker programs or even forced labor conditions, or on-demand businesses like Uber.
These are some of the features of a system, the author argues, that has brought on inequalities that have nothing to do with poor work ethic. That is where the fight for $15 comes in — but not necessarily through traditional union tactics. He talks about how the new policy was won in Seattle, why it should be established nationwide, and why it will not bring on the downfall that some (including many economists) fear.
It’s easy to see how Rolf has been an effective leader in the movement. He is full of ideas, and his writing is lyrical but succinct, inspirational but backed by data, and he often uses anecdotes to illustrate his points about American workers.
In addition to being president of SEIU 775, Rolf is an international vice president of SEIU and has led large-scale, successful worker organizing efforts on the West Coast. He lives in Seattle.
The event is free but space is limited. Registration is required here or watch the live webcast here. Books will be on sale for $15 at the event.
