What’s “$30 + COLA”?
If you’re asking this, you’re probably either in conversation with us already or saw one of our new t-shirts (which we’ll have at the Labor Notes Conference in April, contact us to get one!
Most grocery workers, and many other essential workers, start at a few bucks over min wage, which we all know isn’t enough to afford rent anywhere in the United States. AND THEN, even if you’re been working there for over 20 years, for some reason the pay tends to max out at $25/hour. That’s just wrong.
Unionized workers can win $30 and a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) - 4% on average - if they demand it. The best way to win these tough contract fights are:
Credible Strike Threat: If your union provides first day strike pay then you’re a lot more likely to be taken seriously by employers than if your union makes members wait a week or more on strike without pay.
1 Member 1 Vote: If your union is democratic like UAW, meaning members vote directly for top leaders, then your union is accountable to its member-workers, not staff, politicians, or employers.
Coordinated Bargaining: If your union encourages locals to coordinate across employers, like what the Teamsters just did to win huge raises for UPS drivers, and lines up contract negotiations on the calendar, then members are a lot more likely to win big - power in numbers!
$30 + COLA is also a powerful way to organize more members. Tell union-curious workers that they could win $30 and an annual Cost Of Living Adjustment if they bargain together and see what happens!
