With a national minimum wage hike likely off the table, activists are focused on local policies and expanding union ranks.
During a Trump administration, where can activists continue to make a difference? “On the policy side, we will continue our focus on the local and state levels because there isn’t much hope we’re going to win at the federal level,” said Lo. “But people can really make a difference at the local level; their vote is valuable.” She noted that the minimum wage has so far been a local issue, and consumers can contact companies and ask them to improve their environmental records or fair labor standards.
Beyond the policy realm, one word can make a world of difference for those employed in the food system: unions. Lo said that workers who are part of a union earn roughly 26 percent more than workers who are not organized. In the 1950s, one in three employees was in a union; today it's one in 20, according to a report from the Economic Policy Institute. Employers generally don’t want them, Lo explained, because workers demand not only higher pay but also benefits and inclusion in business decisions. “It’s an issue of power,” she said.
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