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Vol. 32 No. 50 • Thurs., Dec. 12, 2013 - Wed., Dec. 18, 2013 • An NCON Publication Serving The Milwaukee Area • 65¢
Billions served, while workers remain underserved
By: Raina J. Johnson Special to The Milwaukee Times
In more than 100 cities across the nation, December 5, 2013 was a worker day of action. Fast food workers stood together to show solidarity in their efforts to raise the minimum wage and get their fair share from the billion dollar corporations that employ them. Demonstrations began as early as 6:00 a.m. in Milwaukee, with more than 100 people. According to a news release by University of California at Berkeley, their report, “Fast Food, Poverty Wages: The Public Cost of Low-Wage Jobs in the Fast-Food Industry,” revealed that the fast-food industry costs American tax payers nearly $7 billion annually because its jobs pay so little that 52 percent of fastfood workers are forced to enroll their families in public
assistance programs. In Wisconsin, low pay ends up costing our state $166 million every year. Workers are fighting back and raising their voices in order for action to be taken by the state legislature or federal government to raise the minimum wage. On the day of action, events took place in Milwaukee, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Green Bay, Madison and Racine. According to Wisconsin Jobs Now, in the Milwaukee area there are 18,250 frontline fast-food workers. Chants of “We can’t survive on $7.25” began at 6:00 a.m. and a few workers walked off the job to a crowd of supporters chanting, “C’mon out, we’ve got your back!” All are working towards $15 an hour and the right to form a union without interference from employers or unfair la-
Striking workers protesting here in Milwaukee about the low wages of fast food workers are part of a nationwide movement. bor practices. Following the 6:00 a.m. strike hundreds more workers and supporters gathered at the Wisconsin Jobs Now office, 1862 W. Fond du Lac Ave for a briefing, then pro-
ceeded to a march and rally at other fast food locations throughout the city. Workers say they will not give up in the fight for fair wages and a better future and they have a lot of peo-
ple supporting them in that fight, such as Rosalynn Wolfe from the League of Young Voters and many other coalition partners.
Northwest Activities Center hosts first annual O'Bee's Toy House
Staff Photos
The Northwest Family Activity & Events Center hosted its first Mrs. O’Bee’s Toy House on Sunday, December 8, 2013. This event was open to children 12 and under who were accompanied by an adult. Each child was permitted to select a toy. Children were also able to enjoy the special treats provided by the friends of Mrs. O’Bee. The center is located at 4034 W. Good Hope Road and is available to the public to host special events. For more information, please call 414-540-9630 or 414-462-6020. Pictured at the event are (left photo, from left) funeral director and corporate officer J.C. Frazier; Victoria Frazier; Santa Claus; and Milwaukee Times founder Nathan Conyers. Also pictured (right photo) are two of the young participants, ten year-old Jakiah Blake, and her sister, eight year-old Kyaire.
The future of bus service and mass transit in Milwaukee County: A community conversation On Wednesday, December 4, 2013, Veolia Transportation, one of the participants in the now stalled bid to operate the Milwaukee County Transit System, held one of two community forums on the future of Milwaukee’s mass transit system at Coffee Makes You Black, located at 2803 N. Teutonia Ave. The conversations included a review of best practices from across the country and a discussion of current innovations in a rapidly changing industry and how they might apply to Milwaukee County. Pictured at the event (from left) are Veolia business development vice-president Rahul Kumar; Veolia vice president Mike Setzer; and Veolia senior vice president Dick Alexander.
Photo by George Neal