An Uncalled Strike?

Sunday, July 18, I had some errands to run. In the course of my travels, I went past a Dairy Queen that was not offereing lobby service due to being short staffed. A Mexican restaurant was not open either; a matter of what time I was there, maybe, but maybe another matter of staffing?

I have noticed longer lines at the local Dollar Tree and my Aldi's too. I have gotten used to checking my social media, etc while I am waiting, but my friends do not share my patience. My social media is peppered with veiled and outright complaints about how people don't want to work anymore?

Is it that, or is that people don't want to work for $10-$12 an hour, with little or no benefits. Has a part of the American economy gone on a de facto strike demanding better pay? Some businesses are giving in to the workers demands, offering higher wages to entice people to get back to work. President Biden has stated that it may take $15 at the minimum.

If he were truly committed to getting people back to work, he would propose legislation to raise the minimum to $15 and even index for inflation. To do this, the filibuster in the Senate would have to be ended or modified to prevent the Republican Party from blocking it.

Pro-business interests will argue that the costs of higher wages will be passed to the customer. Does it have to be that way, is it that important for the CEO to have another yacht or launch himself into space? Working America has tightened it's belt during the pandemic, why not have businesses sacrifice some profits for a few years.

This "undeclared strike" could also be a recruiting tool for groups that seek more radical changes to the American Economym too. The Democratic Socialists of America are still building momentum and the low-wage service sector could be a place for IWW to organize.

Could this be the moment that the people who bag our groceries and serve our lattes realize their power and exercise it?