CONTINUES TO DROP BUT CLAIMS ARE
STILL MORE THAN DOUBLE THE
PRE-PANDEMIC AVERAGE. >>> WITH THE JOB MARKET
>>> WITH THE JOB MARKET IMPROVING, THE FIGHT FOR $15
IMPROVING, THE FIGHT FOR $15
MINIMUM WAGE BRINGING UP WAGES.
PAULA IS AT A McDONALD’S IN
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP WHERE THE
WAGE JUMPED MORE THAN $3 AN
HOUR. THE QUESTION IS, PAULA, HOW LONG
THE QUESTION IS, PAULA, HOW LONG
WILL THAT WAGE LAST?
>> Paula: AND THAT’S A VERY
IMPORTANT QUESTION.
LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THE SIGN SAID FOR QUITE A FEW WEEKS, AND
SAID FOR QUITE A FEW WEEKS, AND
IN THE LAST 3-4 DAYS OR SO, IT
NOW SAYS HIRING UP TO $15 AN HOUR.
WITH THE FIGHT FOR 15 THAT’S
BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, IS IT OVER OR IS IT TEMPORARY?
OVER OR IS IT TEMPORARY?
THE PROTESTS AND WALKOUTS HAVE
BECOME COMMONPLACE AS THE FIGHT FOR 15 AGREE.
FOR 15 AGREE.
WE’RE AT 9.55 PER HOUR BUT THE
WRITING IS ON THE WALL, THE
BUILDINGS, THE SIGNS, THE MARQUEES.
IT’S A WORKER’S MARKET WITH
WAGES STARTING AT 15, 16, EVEN
$17 PER HOUR WITH ADDED BONUSES AND PERKS.
AND PERKS.
>> THIS WEEK, WE TOOK A DRASTIC
INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE ALONG WITH SALARY.
AND WHEN I SAY DRASTIC,
EXTENSIVE.
>> Paula: SHE IS THE OPERATIONS
MANNER FOR A STRING OF ARBY’S.
A MONTH AGO, SHE WAS WORKING FOR
100 EMPLOYEES AND NOW IS LOOKING FOR 200.
FOR 200.
HOWEVER, SHE CAN’T GUARANTEE HOW
LONG HER STARTING WAGES WILL
STAY AT THIS LEVEL. >> WE’RE TRYING TO GET STAFF AND
>> WE’RE TRYING TO GET STAFF AND
GET OUR RESTAURANTS BACK TO
BEING OPEN AND I BELIEVE IT’S A
WINDOW.
>> Paula: WITH A CHANGE OF FALL
BRINGS WITH CHILDREN BACK IN
SCHOOL, PARENTS REENTERING THE
JOB MARKET AS WELL AS THE
EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
BEGINNING TO DWINDLE. RIGHT NOW, IT’S A WORKER’S
RIGHT NOW, IT’S A WORKER’S
MARKET.
HE OWNS A STRING OF McDONALD’S
AND BELIEVES UP TO $15 PER HOUR
IS HIS NEW NORMAL MOVING
FORWARD. >> I’M A BELIEVER IN THE FREE
>> I’M A BELIEVER IN THE FREE
MARKET, AND THE WAY ECONOMICS
WORK.
AND THIS HAS REALLY -- WE’RE
GETTING THERE.
WE NEED IT.
THIS IS A BUSINESS DECISION TO
STAY OPEN. WE’RE WILLING TO PAY IT.
WE’RE WILLING TO PAY IT.
IT’S A FAIR WAGE FOR THE
DEMANDING JOB AND ESPECIALLY THE
HOURS WE NEED IT.
MORE OF THOSE NIGHTS AND WEEKEND HOURS.
>> Paula: DON GRIMES FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SAYS...
>> SHOULD SOMEONE TAKE A JOB NOW
EVEN IF IT PAID THE SAME OR A LITTLE LESS THAN THE
LITTLE LESS THAN THE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT THEY
COULD COLLECT? AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES.
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES.
>> Paula: IT’S A SEA CHANGE OR A BLIP ON THE RADAR, BUT TO GET
BLIP ON THE RADAR, BUT TO GET
THE JOB NOW RATHER THAN LATER.
>> GET THE SENIORITY BENEFITS
WHICH WILL TRANSLATE INTO
PROMOTION ACTIVITY, LESS LIKELY OF LAYOFFS.
THIS IS THE BIRD IN
THE HAND RIGHT NOW.
BUT THE FIGHT FOR 15
ORGANIZATION SENT ME A NOTE SAYING THEY’RE PLANNING STRIKES
SAYING THEY’RE PLANNING STRIKES
FOR NEXT WEEK ON THE 20th IN
DETROIT, FLINT, AND OTHER
CITIES.
AND YOU MIGHT SAY, WHY?
WHY?
DOESN’T THIS MEAN YOU’VE WON THE
BATTLE? THE RESPONSE THEY GAVE ME LATE
THE RESPONSE THEY GAVE ME LATE
THIS AFTERNOON IS THAT THEY WILL
CONTINUE THE FIGHT UNTIL THIS IS PERMANENT, UNTIL BASICALLY THIS
MORWALKOUTS, AND THE
FIGHT WILL CONTINUE.
RIGHT NOW, BIRD IN THE HAND IS
$15 AN HOUR AND NEGOTIATED
BENEFITS. KAREN?
>> Karen: PAULA TUTMAN REPORTING
LIVE FROM WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.