Today the White House has turned its laser-like focus back to jobs with the Worker Voice Summit, and now that President Obama has virtually eliminated unemployment in the country (just ask him), where else is there to go but up the salary ladder? It used to be that you’d only see #FightFor15 signs at union-led demonstrations outside of fast food restaurants, with workers demanding a livable minimum wage of $15 an hour. As it turns out, a handful of cities, including Seattle and Los Angeles, have voted to make that dream a reality.
It’s no surprise that the demand that private employers pay a $15 an hour minimum wage is coming from inside the White House, and today presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett and other groups whipped out the #FightFor15 hashtag and some hand-selected sob stories for good measure.
"We've been homeless at times and I work two fast-food jobs." -Terrence Wise #StartTheConvo #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/5hK9fPglgi
— IWJ (@IWJNational) October 7, 2015
"I've been homeless with 2 daughters + things didn't change until I joined the #FightFor15" Terrence #StartTheConvo pic.twitter.com/fqWMs5Dm66
— Fight For 15 (@fightfor15) October 7, 2015
Terrence Wise, a fast food worker, & his partner a #homecare worker have to skip meals despite working more than 1 job each. #StartTheConvo
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) October 7, 2015
"Terrence and his mom have been apart for ten years because they don't make enough to travel to see each other" –@POTUS #StartTheConvo
— IWJ (@IWJNational) October 7, 2015
Terrence worked 2 decades & makes only $8. That is not right! So he joined #fightfor15 #StartTheConvo pic.twitter.com/AZ3bs3CjfT
— Valerie Jarrett (@vj44) October 7, 2015
@vj44 what does Terrance do? I want people paid fairly for their skills and value NOT soley tenure.
— Rick Turner (@rickymturner) October 7, 2015
@vj44 Terrance should improve his ed., get a skill, or open his own business. Nobody owes him shit and you don't get a raise for nothing.
— JustASlice (@AmericanAsPie) October 7, 2015
@AmericanAsPie @MRVvoort @vj44 I somehow don't believe he's actually 36-38 though! He looks like he's in his early 20s!
— Lady Oriel (@MrsFreedomFirst) October 7, 2015
@MrsFreedomFirst @MRVvoort @vj44 If Obama had a son, he'd be Terrance. We know this because his own brother lives in a shack in Kenya.
— JustASlice (@AmericanAsPie) October 7, 2015
@vj44 So sad. Get an education and work hard! Don't look for government help! Help yourself.
— LibertyHawk (@HawkinsRandy) October 7, 2015
@vj44 apparently terrence did nothing to improve his stature…
— EJM (@bosseone2) October 7, 2015
@vj44 If I worked more than 1 year and didn't move above $8/hour I'd quit and find another job! #PersonalResponsibility
— Nicholas Pearce (@WarDamnGunners) October 7, 2015
@vj44 And since joining #FightFor15 , Terrence doesn't have time to look for a better job or improve his skills.
— Wright (@WrightBrunoS) October 7, 2015
@vj44 You mean to tell me that in 20 yrs he didn't go to college to better himself? He CHOSE an his life.
— Redbone Conservative (@LouisianaClark) October 7, 2015
@vj44 A lot of things aren't right but it isn't the business of the government to fix them.
— Jack Mitchell (@036da7383c524e3) October 7, 2015
@vj44 Should his employer have to pay because he chose not to better himself. I too once made $8 /hr
— AssAndElephant (@AssAndElephant) October 7, 2015
@vj44 i'm sure there's a theme your trying to exploit so please elaborate.
— Mark Mark Mark (@RevJimJonesInc) October 7, 2015
Here’s a 20-second soundbite that explains everything in detail.
Today's Worker Voice Summit is a way to #StartTheConvo for an economy where workers, businesses & families thrive. pic.twitter.com/Ep34V5nFZ2
— Valerie Jarrett (@vj44) October 7, 2015
