Millennials take action against low wages

Photo credit: The All-Nite Images

CNN Money recently published an article discussing the role that millennials are playing in the movement to increase wages at low-paying jobs:

Millennials turn up heat against low wages (money.cnn.com)

This article describes how recent graduates have to pay off their student loans while they’re stuck in low-paying jobs. To ease their financial burdens, millennials are taking action by joining protests and holding rallies to increase their wages.

The companies where millennials have demanded wage increases include Victoria’s Secret, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s,Wendy’s, KFC, and Kaplan. One millennial made a significant impact in raising wages at her company by gathering signatures:

Debbra Alexis, a 27-year-old Victoria’s Secret employee with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, gathered more than 800 signatures in support of her campaign for higher pay at her New York City store. The store, part of L Brands (LB), ended up giving across-the-board raises of about $1 to $2 per hour to all workers in the Herald Square store.

Another millennial, Janah Bailey, is participating in strikes in Chicago to demand higher pay for fast food workers. The article describes how Bailey, an aspiring cosmetologist, must provide for her family at around $20,000 per year:

Bailey is the primary caregiver of her family of two younger siblings and mom. She pays $750 a month for rent, $50 for heat and $300 for groceries. Her checking account has $5 and her savings account is empty.

With millennials stuck in low-paying jobs despite their education, it’s easy for them to feel helpless and frustrated. So it’s inspiring to hear of millennials using their voices to stand up to large corporations and improve their difficult situations.

Related articles:

Victoria’s Secret NY workers win fight for better pay (money.cnn.com)

Kaplan tutor union battle heats up (money.cnn.com)