The SEIU’s “Fight for 15” Campaign

Question 1 

When it comes to the issue of the minimum wage, the management, labor unions, and society have goals to achieve. The company management teams should ensure that their employees are paid well for the services they provide (Jargon, 2014). In particular, they should introduce rewarding systems where workers get commissions or bonuses to boost their income. The society should support the move to increase the minimum wage so that people can have enough money to support their families. As such, older adults should not move quickly to take over the jobs left by young people who demand a pay rise. Labor unions need to mobilize employees, the government, and other relevant agencies such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to convince company owners to increase wages (Madland, 2017). Consequently, when employers become pressurized to compensate their workers well, they ought to do something positive. 

Question 2 

In reality, SEIU campaigns seek a rise in workers’ minimum wage from $9 to $15 an hour. Fast-food companies and their franchisees do not want to address the issue of the minimum wage. Even after numerous protests from employees in the fast-food industry, they argue that for them to increase salaries, the price of products must shoot (Sonn, 2019). Union-management collaboration has not solved the problem. Besides, union membership has been on a decline since 1983. On that note, labor unions might not be influential since they encourage protests, which do not facilitate the amendment of the pay rise bill. However, the solution for the issue of the minimum wage lies with fast-food management. That is the reason I would recommend the approach of union-management collaboration. Labor unions should stop mobilizing workers to protest since it is against the company policies (Henry, 2019). Instead, they should have effective agreements with business owners so that they can agree to increase workers’ salaries. Overall, there should be a mutual consensus between the firms’ management and unions. 

References 

Henry, M. K. (2019). How workers are winning $15 an hour: By acting like a union. The Guardians. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/17/15-minimum-wage-union-legislation-fast-food. 

Jargon, J. (2014). McDonald’s ruling sets ominous tone for franchisers. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/nlrb-decision-could-make-mcdonalds-liable-for-labor-practices-of-franchisees-1406660591. 

Madland, D. (2017). How state and local governments can strengthen worker power and raise wages. Center for American Progress Action Fund. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/economy/reports/2017/05/02/166640/state-local-governments-can-strengthen-worker-power-raise-wages/. 

Sonn, P. (2019). McDonald’s ends its war against higher salaries, so what does that mean for the minimum wage? Retrieved from https://www.salon.com/2019/04/02/mcdonalds-wont-fight-higher-wages-so-what-does-that-mean-for-the-minimum-wage/.