The
Courier www.couriernews.org
S ERVING C OLUMBUS , F T. B ENNING , P HENIX C ITY & S URROUNDING A REAS
Inspirational-Informative-Empowering...Your Source For The Truth Vol. 15 Edition 4 Free Thursday February 13, 2020
A View From A Pew
This Weeks Column; “A Life Without Black People”
Page 3 Be Informed
What You Need To Know About The Upcoming Election Pages 6 & 7
35th Annual Black History Month Observance Breakfast Dr. Jill Biden To Deliver Keynote Address February 17, 2020 7AM 801 Front Avenue Columbus, Georgia Columbus Convention & Trade Center
Under The Radar
PAGE 5
Meet “Lade Breez”... Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and Spoken Word Artist Page 11
FEBRUARY 13, 2020 Dunlap & Lakes Making Moves According to the street committee the law offices of Dunlap & Lakes will soon be relocating to the Midtown area. The word on the street is
Attorney’s Jennifer Dunlap and Raymond Lakes, III will be taking over the building currently occupied by the Law offices of Forrest B. Johnson. The street committee has it that Johnson will no longer continue to serve the Columbus community. New Faces, Different Races The street committee is happy to see that, at least for now, there will be a few new faces running for office in
the upcoming election. We say for now because anyone can change their mind between now and March 6, 2020. If you intend to run for local office in Muscogee county the qualifying deadline is from March 2, 2020 until 12 noon on March 6, 2020. Speaking of Elections The street committee wants to know what is it going to take to get someone from this century on the Board of Elections and Registration? We could be wrong, but it seems as though 4 of the 5 members have been serving on the board since Moses walked the earth. No disrespect but the street committee wants to know isn’t it about time for a retirement party that would include the issuing of some “Thanks for Your Years of Service to Our Community” plaques?
Request for Bids/Proposals RFB No. 20-0052 Colored Mulch Production (Annual Contract) Due: February 26, 2020 – 2:30 PM Patti Postorino, Buyer RFB No. 20-0053 Dumpster/Roll Off Container Rental and Servicing (Annual Contract) Due: February 26, 2020 – 2:30 PM. Heather Biddle, Buyer RFP No. 20-0015 Integrated Transit System (Annual Contract) Due: February 28, 2020 – 5:00 PM Della Lewis, CPPB, Buyer Specialist RFB No. 20-0050 Aerial and Ground Ladder Inspection & Testing Services (Annual Contract) Due: March 4, 2020 – 2:30 PM Patti Postorino, Buyer RFP No. 20-0017 Consulting Services for Employee Benefits Plan (Annual Contract) Due: March 6, 2020 – 5:00 PM Della Lewis, CPPB, Buyer Specialist
Sealed responses must be received, and time/date stamped by the due date shown above, by the Finance Department/Purchasing Division of Columbus Consolidated Government, 100 Tenth Street, Columbus, GA 31901. To obtain specifications, visit the City's website at , notify the Buyer via email, fax 706-225-3033, or telephone 706-225-4087.
Andrea J. McCorvey. Purchasing Division Manager
The Courier Eco Latino Newspaper *Any editorial content are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper, publisher or staff” The Courier Eco Latino Newspaper 1300 Wynnton Rd Suite 104 Columbus, Georgia 3190 Email: couriereconews@gmail.com Phone: 706.225.0106 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5747 Columbus, Ga 31906 Visit Us Online At: www.couriernews.org
COURIER THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2020
A VIEW FROM A PEW A Life Without Black People Letter Drop. Lawns would be brown and wilted because Joseph Smith invented the lawn sprinkler and John Burr the lawn mower. When you enter your homes, you would find them to be poorly ventilated and poorly heated. You see, Frederick Jones invented the air conditioner and Alice Parker the heating furnace. As we celebrate our heritage this month, I find it embarrassing how little we, as African Americans, know about our contribution to society. Black history includes so much m o r e t h a n j u s t s l a v e r y, Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, H a r r i e t Tu b m a n , M a r c u s Garvey, WEB. Dubois, George Wa s h i n g t o n C a r v e r a n d Booker T. Washington. Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that this would be a much better America without Black people. I would contend that America without Black people would be a miserable place. If you don’t mind, I would like to share with you how life would be living in an America without Black people. America would be a barren land because there would be very few crops that would flourish because the nation was built on a slave-supported system. Cities would not have tall skyscrapers because Alexander Mils, a Black man, invented the elevator, and without it, one finds great difficulty reaching higher floors. There would be few, if any cars because Richard Spikes, a Black man, invented the
automatic gearshift, Joseph Gambol, also Black, invented the Super Charge System for internal combustion engines, and Garrett A. Morgan, a Black man, invented the traffic signals. Furthermore, one could not use the rapid transit system because its precursor was the electric trolley, which was invent- ed by another Black man, Albert R. Robinson. Even if there were streets on which cars and a rapid transit system could operate; they would be cluttered with paper because an African American, Charles Brooks, invented the street sweeper. There would be no newspapers, magazines or books because John Love invented the pencil sharpener, William Purveys invented the fountain pen, Lee Barrage W.A. Love invented the Advanced Printing Press. They were all Black men. Even if Americans could write their letters, articles and books, would not be transported by mail because William Barry invented the Postmarking and Canceling Machine, William Purveys invented the Hand Stamp, and Phillip Downing invent- ed the
Their homes were also dim. But of course, Lewis Latimer invented the electric lamp, Michael Harvey invented the lantern and Granville T. Woods invented the automatic cutoff switch. H o m e s w o u l d b e f i l t h y, because Thomas W. Steward invented the mop and Lloyd P. Ray the dustpan. Children would walk around barefoot, shabby, motley and unkempt. But what could one expect? Jan E. Matzelinger invented the shoe lasting machine, Walter Sammons invented the comb, Sarah Boone invented the ironing board, and George T. Samon invented the clothes dryer. Finally, they would be resigned to at least have dinner amidst all of this turmoil. But here again, the food would spoil because another Black man, John Standard invented the refrigerator. I have provided you with a list of products that were invented by us. Once you have an opportunity to review it, I challenge you to go one day without realizing our contribution to society. Good Luck with that!
Wane A. Hailes
3
Courier February 13, 2020
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F RIENDSHIP B APTIST C HURCH
831 6 TH AVE C OLUMBUS , G A
Early Worship 8am Breakfast 9am Sunday School 9:30 am Morning Worship 11am Wednesday Prayer Meeting/Bible Study 7pm Thursday Noon Bible Study 12 noon Sunday Child Day Care Services Available For Those Attending Our Worship WEBSITE : friendshipbchurch.org (O FFICE )706.323-6996 (FAX ) 706.322.7596 (PASTOR ’ S HOME )706.561.6733 friendshipbaptistcolumbus@gmail.com or friendshipbc@juno.com Transportation available, must contact church office by Friday at 12:00 noon.
R EV. D R . E MMETT S. A NITON , J R PASTOR
P ROGRESSIVE F UNERAL H OME Evergreen Covington, CEO
4236 St. Mary’s Road Columbus, Georgia
706.685.8023 evergreenfc@mediacombb.net
Metropolitan Baptist Church 1635 5th Avenue . Columbus, Georgia
706.322.1488 Service Sunday School 9:30 A.M Monday Night Tuesday Bible Study Pastor Curtis Crocker, Jr.
Schedule Sunday Worship 11:00 A.M Prayer 6:00 P.M 12:00 P.M & 5:30 P.M
Mission Statement A growing church for growing Christians attempting to grow the Kingdom, one soul at a time.
Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church Corner of 3rd Avenue and 5th Street Rev. Dr. J.H. Flakes Jr. Way Columbus, Georgia 31901 706.324.2055 Rev. J.H. Flakes, III -Pastor Rev. Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr. - Pastor Emeritus
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COVER STORY
Courier February 13, 2020
Jill Biden, PhD Will be the Keynote Speaker for the 35th Annual Black History Month Observance Breakfast The breakfast honors individuals, organizations, and communities for significant contributions to and recognition of African American History. Proceeds from the Black History Observance Breakfast are distributed to local non-profit organizations that are making a difference in our community. “This year begins a new decade of opportunities and challenges for us all”, says Ann Caggins, Chairperson of the Observance Breakfast Committee. The Black History Observance Committee is thrilled that Dr. Jill Biden has agreed to travel to Columbus to help us commemorate our rich history.”
She taught English and reading in high schools for 13 years, and also taught adolescents with emotional disabilities at a psychiatric hospital. From 1993 to 2008, she was an English and writing instructor at . Since 2009, she has been a professor of English at and is thought to be the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband was vice president. She is the founder of the Biden Breast Health Initiative non-profit organization, co-founder of the Book Buddies program, co-founder of the Biden Foundation, is active in Delaware Boots on the Ground, and is co-founder of Joining Forces with . Reserved tables are $500 or $1500. Individual tickets are available at $50
each. For ticket information please contact Wane Hailes at 706.358.9202
Caggins revealed that the the theme for the evnt is; “ Their Legacy ….our Future”.
By Wane A. Hailes The Courier The 35th Annual Black History Month Observance Breakfast committee announced that Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the 47th vice president of the United States, Joe Biden, will be the keynote speaker for the annual breakfast on Monday, February 17, 2020 at 7:00 am at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Each year, on President’s Day, the Black History Month Observance Breakfast, led by Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, invites the tri-city community to come together for breakfast and an inspiring message from a notable Black History Month speaker. In previous years speakers have included: the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, Congresswoman Val Demings, Former United States Surgeon General David Satcher, House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn and then Senator Barack Obama.
“Throughout February significant contributions made by local African Americans are recognized. In this 35th year of the Black History Observance Breakfast, we will follow the substance of all the other highly respected Black History Programs in our Community. This breakfast will honor the Legacies of our historical anchors, and look to the Future of our emerging leaders. A highlight of this year will be the unveiling of a Category honoring citizens making quiet impacts on behalf of the community who did not know others are watching them. ….You won’t want to miss this! Please come! We want all of Columbus to embrace this new decade of the roaring twenties in celebration of all that we can do together.” Jill Biden has a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware, master's degrees from and , and a doctoral degree from the University of Delaware.
Lizzie Mae Lunsford
President Barack Obama
Toni Morrison
Dr. Thomas Brewer
Courier Thursday February 13, 2020
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Page 7
Election 2020 The Demographics
Postions For Re-election
*November 2018 Election Numbers
U.S. Congress Sanford D. Bishop. 2nd District
Election Dates The presidential preference primary and special election
March 24, 2020 The general primary election and nonpartisan general election will be held
May 19, 2020 with a runoff set for
July 2, 2020 The general election will be
November 3, 2020 with a runoff date of
Registered Voters
Actual Voters
Blacks - Males - Females Total
25,296 35,422 60,718
Blacks - Males - Females Total
10,576 18,870 29,446
Whites - Males - Females Total
23,870 28,967 52,837
Whites - Males - Females Total
12,943 15,373 28,316
1,600 1,885 3,485
Hispanics - Males - Females Total
492 649 3,485
Hispanics - Males - Females Total
December 1, 2020 Voting Precincts and Locations Deadline To Register To vote
February 24, 2020 Are You Registered To Vote? The Georgia Secretary of State’s office makes it easy to figure out if you’re registered to vote. To find out if you’re registered to vote in Georgia, check your status on the Secretary of State’s website under the My Voter Page icon. You can also register to vote and update your information on the website.
On The Ballot - Muscogee County School District is asking for an Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum. They want to raise $189 million over five years to fund capital projects for the school system - Columbus Council will be asking for a special purpose local option sales tax referendum, in order to raise $350 million over a 10-year-period for capital projects that would include a new Government center. *If approved taxpayers would see a 9% sales tax starting in April 2021,
101 WYNNTON 2412 WYNNTON RD
115 CAANAN BAPTIST 2835 BRANTON WOODS DR
102 CARVER 3000 MACON RD
116 HOLSEY MONUMENTAL 6028 BUENA VISTA RD
103 ST. JOHN 3980 STEAM MILL RD
117 GENTIAN 4400 REESE RD
104 BRITT DAVID 2801 W BRITT DAVID RD
118 ST. PAUL 2101 WILDWOOD AVE
105 ST. PETER 6507 MOON RD
119 MOON 7300 WHITTLESEY BLVD
106 CONERSTONE 7701 LLOYD RD
120 ST. ANDREWS 4980 HANCOCK RD
107 COLUMBUS TECH 928 MANCHESTER EXPY
121 BLACKMON 5201 WARM SPRINGS RD
108 ST. MARK 6795 WHITESVILLE RD
122 FIRST AFRICAN 901 5TH AVE
109 WYNNBROOK 500 RIVER KNOLL WAY
124 EPWORTH 2400 DEVONSHIRE DR
110 CUSSETA 3013 CUSSETA RD
125 GALLOPS 1212 15TH ST
112 OLOLC 1953 TORCH HILL RD
126 EDGEWOOD 3564 FORREST RD
113 MT. PILGRIM 4400 OLD CUSSETA RD
127 PSALMOND 6550 PSALMOND RD
114 FAITH TABERNACLE 1603 FLOYD RD
State Senators Ed Harbison 15th District Randy Robertson. 29th District State Representatives Vance Smith District 133 Richard Smith District 134 District 135 Calvin Smyre Carolyn Hugley District 136 Debbie Buckner District 137 Muscogee County School District Pat Hugley Green District 1 District 3 Vanessa Jackson Laurie McRae District 5 Cathy Williams District 7 City Council Glenn Davis Valerie A. Thompson Gary Allen Walker Garrett John House
District 2 District 4 District 6 District 8 At-Large
Muscogee County Sheriff Donna Tompkins District Attorney Julia Slater Coroner Buddy Bryan Tax Commissioner Lula Lunsford Huff Superior Court Clerk Danielle Forte Superior Court Judges Maureen Gottfried Gil McBride William Rumer Ron Mullins Arthur Smith Bobby Peters Ben Land State Court Judges Andy Prather Benjamin Richardson Municipal Court Judges Steven Smith Probate Court Judges Marc D’Antonio State Court Solicitor Suzanne Goddard Muscogee County Marshal Municipal Court Clerk
Courier Thursday February 13,, 2020
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MIKE GETS ITT..
MIKE GETSS IT DONE.
THE ENDURING LEGAC Y OF R ACIAL DISCRIMINA AT TION CONTINUES TO ST TA AND IN THE WA AY Y OF CRE A AT TING WE A L LT TH IN BL ACK COMMUNITIES. C H I L D R E N W I T H A GO O D E D U C A AT TION A RE MORE LI K EL LY Y TO ACHIEVE THE AMERIC AN DRE AM. KEEPING KIDS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE KEY TO A BRIGHT FUTURE .
MIKE’S GREENWOOD INITIA AT TIVE IS A COMPREHENSIVE NA AT TIONAL APPROA AC CH TO CREA AT TING GENERA AT TIONAL WEAL LT TH FOR BLA AC CK AMERICANS. IT T INCLUDES:
• • •
C r ea t ing 1 million new B lac k homeowner s. Suppor ting the development of 10 0,0 0 0 new Black- owned busines ses.
DURING HIS TIME AS MAY YO OR OF NEW YO YORK CITY Y,, MIKE:
• •
Increased teacher salaries b y 4 3% a n d B l a c k s t u d e n t g r a d u a t i o n r a t e s b y 5 3% . Reduced crime to his toric l o w s by c u t t i n g t h e m u r d e r r a te in hal f and re duc ing juvenile detention by 36% .
Inves ting $70 billion in neighborhoods that need i t mos t .
MIKE IK KE B BL LOOM OO OM MB BERG ER RG IS THE TH HE ONL ON NL LY Y DE EM MOCR OC CR RA ATIC TIIC PRESI PR RE ES SIID DENTI EN NT TIIA AL C CA AN ND DIID DATE WITH WIIT TH A P PL LAN TO TO BUIIL LD RE EA AL WE EA ALT TH H FOR OR B BL LACK AMERIC ME ER RIIC CA A AND A TR RA ACK RE EC CORD OR RD FO OR R GE TTING TT TIIN NG TH THING HIIN NG GS S DON ONE ONE E.. F or m or e i n f or m a t i on v i s i t
MikeForBlack America.com
Paid For by Mike Bloomberg 2020
Page 11
UNDER THE RADAR
Courier Thursday February 13, 2020
Brandy “Lade Breez” Elam...Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Spoken Word Artist By Wane A. Hailes The Courier Brandy “Lade Breez” Elam is an Author, Philanthropist, Humanitarian, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, Event Host, Mentor, Youth Tutor, and Spoken Word Artist. She hails from Columbus, GA by way of Detroit, MI. As CEO of "Express Me Poetry" and founder of “Educated Blessyns”, Lade Breez is not only a movement in her community by words alone but her passion can be witnessed through numerous demonstrations for the cause.. Actively involved in her community, Lade Breez is a Motivational Speaker for Mental Health and Well-being, an Activist for Black Lives Matter, Women Against Domestic Violence, and The NoH8 Movements. Affiliated with multiple youth residential facilities, Lade Breez is also a Life Coach and Mentor of children ages 8-19 under her non-profit organization, “Educated Blessyns”; under the same umbrella.
Lade Breez assists in relocating battered women and children out of abusive situations to safety as well as assisting with financial binds. Her many accomplishments include: 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Spoken Word Artist of the Year Nominee, 2017 and 2018 Spoken Word Artist of the Year, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Humanitarian Award Nominee, 2018 and 2019 Host of the Year Nominee, 2019 Women’s History in the Making Community Leader Award Nominee, 2019 Curvy Alliance Recipient, and 2019 Sybil Johnson Woman Of Excellence Award Recipient. Lade Breez believes in “Improving This World One Stage At A Time” by hosting positivity motivated events to assist in bringing the community together for an evening of enlightenment, entertainment, and class; Maintaining strong values in family, honor, integrity, and the gift of helping others. Above all else Lade Breez is a Wife and Mother.
13 de febrero 2020
Pagina 4
Menos vuelto: Cómo el trabajo por propinas exacerba la brecha salarial para las Latinas From Pagina 2 dedicar a los trabajadores que reciben propinas a trabajar para los clientes sin reclasificar a esos trabajadores para recibir un salario más alto. Lo que significa que las horas de generación de propinas de los trabajadores -y sus salarios- probablemente disminuyan. La propia investigación del DOL arrojó que el 84 por ciento de los restaurantes fiscalizados en 2010-2012 violó las leyes de salarios y horas, y el robo de salarios es rampante en las industrias con propinas. Esta regla propuesta facilitaría aún más que los empleadores se aprovechen de los trabajadores que reciben propinas. El Dia de la Igualdad Salarial para las Latinas debería recordar a los legisladores su poder para aumentar los salarios. El Raise the Wage Act, que aumentaría el salario mínimo federal y eliminaría el salario mínimo para los trabajadores que reciben propinas y los trabajadores con discapacidades, así como el Paycheck Fairness Act, que fortalecería la protección de la igualdad salarial y combatiría la discriminación salarial de género, han pasado la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos, pero se pudren en el Senado. Mantener los requisitos actuales para la cantidad de trabajo con propina disponible para trabajadores que dependen de las propinas, ayudará a garantizar que estos trabajadores no se queden atrás todavía más. Eliminar el salario sub-mínimo sería un paso vital para lograr la equidad salarial para los trabajadores latinxs y una victoria para todos los que dependen de las propinas. Lily Roberts es la directora de Movilidad Económica en el Center for American Progress. Galen Hendricks es asistente de investigación de política económica en CAP.
Trump’s Newest Budget Would Take Food Away From Working Families
By Lily Roberts and Galen Hendricks There are dozens of programs on the chopping block in the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal. Yet the administration’s most blatant attempt to gut the programs on which American families depend comes in the form of additional cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program. The proposed budget contains a devastating $182 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade, a reduction of approximately 28 percent compared with the baseline level estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. SNAP is a vital support that was used by 34 million Americans in an average month in 2019, and the entire program still costs less than President Donald Trump’s tax cuts for the richest 1 percent of American households. Targeting SNAP for cuts therefore makes a negligible difference for the overall budget but does considerable harm to families. These cuts clearly demons t r a t e w h o t h e Tr u m p administration prioritizes.
New research shows that despite low unemployment and other surface-level indicators of a strong economy, nearly 51 million American households— 43 percent of all households— are unable to afford basic necessities such as food, transportation, and health care. There are 16.1 million American households officially in poverty, in addition to 34.7 million households who aren’t officially under the poverty line but whose lowpaying jobs and high rents and health care costs mean that they must often go without basic necessities. In a recent poll of registered voters conducted by the Center for American Progress, a staggering one-third of respondents said that, at some point over the past year, they or an immediate family member had too little money to buy food. Food insecurity is particularly prevalent for older adults; Black, Latinx, and American Indian families; and people in rural areas. For families like these, SNAP is a necessary—although often insufficient—protection against hunger. While the Trump administration often touts a booming economy, low overall unemployment belies the dif-
ferences between local conditions across the country. For example, cities such as McAllen, Texas, and Fresno, California, have unemployment rates that are twice as high as the national rate. Historically, states have been able to relax some paperwork requirements for SNAP recipients to prove that they are working in areas with high unemployment rates. However, in December 2019, the Trump administration limited states’ ability to account for local availability of jobs by changing the rule governing the long-standing waiver system. It is now more difficult for struggling areas to give residents longer to find a job when jobs are scarce; in the event of a future economic downturn, this rule change will make it harder for everyone to recover. Policies that require people to prove that they’re working before they can receive benefits rely on debunked stereotypes about fraud and human behavior. Behavioral economic and psychological research has repeatedly shown that scarcity makes it harder for people to plan for anything other than the most immediate emergency. Children who don’t have enough food have worse health
and learning outcomes. Adults’ decision-making is influenced by even the perception or fear of scarcity. Moreover, job-seekers are more successful in their searches when they have reliable access to food, shelter, and other basic necessities. Taking SNAP away from families when they lose a job simply punishes those who are already struggling to make ends meet, pushing them deeper into poverty and disrupting their efforts toward financial security. President Trump’s proposed cuts to SNAP should come as no surprise. His administration has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to restricting families’ access to food. Last year’s budget proposed cuts to SNAP, and the administration spent the next year finding new ways to make those cuts a reality. Each year’s budget under this administration has compounded the cuts of past years, placing the burden on families struggling to make ends meet. Lily Roberts is the director of Economic Mobility at the Center for American Progress. Galen Hendricks is a research assistant for Economic Policy at the Center.
13 de febrero 2020
Pagina 2
Menos vuelto: Cómo el trabajo por propinas exacerba la brecha salarial para las Latinas
por Lily Roberts y Galen Hendricks El 20 de noviembre marca el Día de Igualdad Salarial para las Latinas: la fecha estimada de 2019 hasta la cual una latina que trabaja a tiempo completo, durante 12 meses, debe trabajar en el año en curso para ganar tanto como la cantidad que un hombre blanco no hispano trabaja a tiempo completo durante todo el año, solo en el año anterior.* El año pasado, las latinas ganaron 54.5 centavos por cada dólar ganado por hombres blancos no hispanos. Una parte importante de la brecha salarial no puede explicarse por factores como las diferencias en el nivel educativo o la antigüedad en el trabajo: los expertos suelen atribuir la brecha a la discriminación. Según una encuesta reciente del Pew Research Center, 6 de cada 10 adultos hispanos en los Estados Unidos han experimentado discriminación, con un 26 por ciento que señala específicamente el trato injusto en la contratación, el pago o la promoción. La discriminación es más frecuente en los
hispanoamericanos que se autoidentifican como de piel más oscura. El efecto combinado de múltiples formas de sesgo, como la discriminación basada en género, origen étnico y la raza, puede crear aún más daño para las mujeres de color en el mercado laboral. Muchas latinas informan haber sufrido discriminación en lugares de trabajo en todo el país. Otro promotor sustancial de la desigualdad salarial es la segregación ocupacional, lo que significa la sistemática ley del embudo para las mujeres, particularmente los diferentes grupos de mujeres de color como las latinas, hacia ocupaciones poco remuneradas. La segregación ocupacional desmiente la idea de que los trabajadores pueden mejorar sus trabajos y salarios con más capacitación y educación: los trabajadores en ocupaciones poco remuneradas, en las que los trabajadores son predominantemente mujeres, están mejor educados que los trabajadores en otras ocupaciones poco remuneradas, pero sus ingresos por hora son más bajos.
Lograr la igualdad salarial requerirá soluciones políticas sólidas que apoyen a las mujeres y sus familias; mejorar las leyes y protecciones de igualdad salarial; fortalecer la ley antidiscriminatoria y su aplicación, y construir un sistema de fuerza laboral centrado en la equidad. Un área clara para mejorar, reducir la brecha salarial y avanzar hacia un Día de Igualdad Salarial para las Latinas antes de 2021, sería eliminar las excepciones anticuadas y discriminatorias al salario mínimo federal. El salario mínimo para los trabajadores que reciben propinas perpetúa la brecha salarial y el acoso laboral A nivel federal, los trabajadores que reciben propinas actualmente reciben solo $2.13 por hora de su empleador, en comparación con los $7.25 por hora de los trabajadores que no reciben propinas. Si bien los empleadores están obligados por ley a compensar la diferencia cuando sus propinas no alcanzan el salario mínimo estándar, en la práctica eso rara vez ocurre y es casi imposible de reforzar.
Según un nuevo análisis, de la amplia gama de fuentes de ingresos descritas en la ola más reciente de la Encuesta de Ingresos y Participación en el Programa (SIPP, por sus siglas en inglés), los trabajadores que indican que reciben propinas en uno o más de sus trabajos tienen salarios más bajos que los trabajadores que no lo hacen, dominado por raza/etnia y género. El ingreso mensual promedio de una trabajadora hispana o latina con propina es 35 por ciento del ingreso mensual promedio de un hombre blanco no hispano sin propinas. Sólo al examinar a los trabajadores que reciben propinas, las trabajadoras hispanas o latinas que reciben propinas ganan un 30 por ciento menos que los hombres blancos no hispanos con propinas, así como un 23 por ciento menos que las mujeres blancas no hispanas con propinas. Las mujeres tienen más probabilidades que los hombres de recibir propinas: el 2,6 por ciento de las mujeres en la fuerza laboral recibe propinas en uno o más de sus trabajos, en comparación con el 1,5 por ciento de todos los hombres. Las mujeres hispanas y latinas tienen más probabilidades que los hombres hispanos y latinos de trabajar para obtener propinas, y tienen casi el doble de probabilidades de trabajar para obtener propinas que los hombres blancos no hispanos. Cabe señalar que los datos a nivel federal sobre las propinas y los trabajadores que reciben propinas son difíciles de obtener de manera confiable. Estos datos podrían infravalorar a aquellos que trabajan para obtener propinas, ya que el SIPP depende de los informes voluntarios sobre el ingreso de los encuestados, pero proporciona más detalles sobre los trabajadores que reciben propinas que otras fuentes de datos. Los trabajadores que reciben propinas están agradecidos con
sus clientes por éstas y dependientes de sus empleadores para que calculen de manera justa la diferencia entre sus salarios reales y esperados. Esas dinámicas de poder fomentan una cultura que hace que los trabajadores que reciben propinas sean más propensos a sufrir acoso sexual, abuso y discriminación tanto de clientes y empleadores como de otras personas en el lugar de trabajo con más poder. El efecto adicional de los prejuicios sobre las mujeres de color con demasiada frecuencia las somete a una mayor discriminación. Es imposible medir el alcance real del acoso sexual y otras violaciones que no se denuncian, dado que los sobrevivientes tienden a no reportar por razones que incluyen, entre otras, el temor a represalias en el lugar de trabajo y la creencia de que el sistema de justicia no les dará la justicia que buscan. Incluso con un subregistro significativo, los trabajadores de alojamiento y servicio de alimentos representan 1 de 7 cargos de acoso sexual presentados ante la Comisión de Igualdad de Oportunidades de Empleo de los Estados Unidos entre 2005 y 2015. Oportunidades para fortalecer las protecciones para los trabajadores que reciben propinas y combatir los esfuerzos para disminuir el poder de los trabajadores El Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos (DOL, por sus siglas en inglés) ha aplicado durante mucho tiempo la llamada regla 80/20, que requiere que los empleadores paguen el salario mínimo completo ($7,25 en lugar de $2,13) cuando los trabajadores pasan más del 20 por ciento de su tiempo en trabajos que no generan propinas. En octubre de 2019, la administración Trump propuso una regla que disminuiría la cantidad de horas que los empleadores deben Pagina 4
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Eco Latino
S ERVING C OLUMBUS , F T. B ENNING , P HENIX C ITY & S URROUNDING A REAS
La voz de la comunidad hispana Vol. 15
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Jueves 13 de febrero 2020
Menos vuelto: Cรณmo el trabajo por propinas exacerba la brecha salarial para las Latinas
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