By Peter Molenaar
Monday, May 18”¦
The Metropolitan Airports Commission was to convene its monthly meeting with a lengthy agenda. Star employees were to receive awards! Smile. However, the deeper concern was this: Should the low-wage classifications be bumped up $1.00 from the minimum wage?
So rendezvous at the Lake Street Station for a light rail hop to Terminal I. Traverse the dark recesses”¦enter the light of day among red shirt activists. The gathering was lead by “15 Now” (Socialist Alternative) and SEIU Local 26. “Fight for $15/hour at MSP Airport” was the slogan.
We were able to pass the security gauntlet (to mixed reviews) and entered momentarily the bourgeois market place. We did not dwell there, but ascended one flight to find the MAC meeting space.
After much to-do, the time for public testimony did arrive. I had filled out a card requesting to speak on behalf of the Communist Party USA. To my astonishment, my name was called first!
Sensing an historic moment of sorts, I held forth my own hand made sign: LIVING WAGE NATION NOW! The commissioners were reminded that in the modern world such slogans might be viewed almost anywhere instantly. Lifting the wage to the level of a living wage is then a MATTER OF NATIONAL PRIDE.
A spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce was to follow. Poor fellow. But the workers spoke with eloquence. For their families, a raise to $10.00/hour would be woefully inadequate (and disgraceful).
