Grace Fortin
Lewis
2 White
Central Claim: Workers at many major fast-food chains, in addition to being payed very little and having little to no health benefits, are being punished for joining strikes by having their hours cut severely. Fewer than two percent of food service workers are part of a union, and one way to improve their conditions and protect their rights is to increase this percentage.
Significant Evidence: One piece of evidence that shows the effectiveness of advocating for workers and their rights is a description of how the Restaurant Opportunities Center United, based in New York, helped many workers in one restaurant chain. The advocacy group helped win a $5.25 million settlement against celebrity chef Mario Batali, whose employees at several restaurants claimed their employer had violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. In addition, ROC-United offers many other benefits to workers, such as affordable healthcare plans and free job training.
My Opinion: There is no doubt in my mind that there are many things wrong with the fast-food industry. Even ignoring for the moment the long list of grievances regarding the food itself, it is clear that it is time to focus on the people who are working for these large and very powerful companies as well. Although unions are increasingly becoming a rarity today, they can still be effective in getting the company’s attention and upholding the rights of the workers. Even less orthodox organizations than traditional unions and strikes would be beneficial to the rise against the monstrous oppression that these workers face every day.
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