Cheri Honkala, founder of the Poor People’s Economic Rights Campaign spoke with America’s Work Force on August 14 about the campaign and what they are fighting for.
Honkala first spoke about UPS airport facility workers and the poor conditions they have been working in. Currently, they have been working in poor conditions such as extreme heat, while receiving low wages. Richard Hooker with Teamsters 623 joined Honkala during her segment and stating that workers at this UPS facility are unlikely to see any improvement in their wages, even when they become full-time workers. He said that it took some workers nearly four years to see wage increases.
Honkala also discussed the Poor People’s Economic Rights Campaign. She said that the organization is made up of people who are trying to advance basic human economic rights that specifically relate to housing, education and jobs. They fight for a living wage and to abolish poverty. Honkala stressed that people who are working should not be living below the poverty line and struggling for basic necessities such as food, water and housing. The campaign fights to push for a minimum wage increase to help working people afford a place to live.
Matt Jaworski, contributing writer for the Labor Citizen talked about what to expect in the upcoming edition. He discussed Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) and how the guidelines for the standard apprenticeship programs are being stripped. Lastly, Jaworski talked about Amazon opening up a new warehouse in Akron, Ohio and all of the construction jobs that will be created because of it.
AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc discussed the United States Department of Justice and how they are seeking to eliminate Federal Immigration judges from being allowed to unionize.
