A Fair Living Wage And Benefits For All Workers

Randi Weingarten is part of Change.org's Changemaker network, comprised of leading voices for social change. Change.org asked Ms. Weingarten to respond to questions to provide context for her work and the causes she supports.

Change.org: What cause or causes would you most like to promote as a Changemaker and why?

I would like to promote two interconnected causes, one educational and the other economic: to ensure that every child in this country receives a high-quality public education, and to ensure that every worker has access to a job that pays a living wage. More than the minimum wage, a living wage is one that allows workers to obtain the basics of food, shelter, health care and transportation for themselves and their families. The American Dream is a false promise if the reality is that millions of Americans can get an education and work hard for 40 hours a week and still not be able to afford basic necessities. As our country works to rebound from the economic collapse, we should focus on creating good jobs in which workers are respected, have a voice in their workplace, and earn a decent wage that enables them to provide for themselves and their families.

Change.org: If you could ask 1 million people to all do one thing to advance causes that matter to you, what would it be?

I would ask that they become fully engaged citizens of their communities and of their country-to realize the vision of being a service nation. Specifically, we know our schools and our communities need support. Get to know-and engage regularly with-your child's school and teacher. Take time to mentor a child who, with just a bit of added attention, would stay in school.

Change.org: If you could ask President Obama and the U.S. Congress to do one thing to advance your cause, what would it be?

What this country needs right now are jobs, jobs and more good jobs. The work that President Obama and this Congress have done in the past year to create jobs-even in the face of a sour economy-is critically important. But the fact is that, sometimes, just having a job is still not enough for an individual or a family to get by. I would encourage our federal leaders, when they talk about creating jobs, to also push for a fair living wage and benefits for all workers.

Change.org: What are the greatest obstacles to change on your issue?

We need to create an environment that is a race to the top, and move beyond the bleak reality of today. President Franklin D. Roosevelt put Americans to work through the Work Projects Administration, which created jobs for public works projects that truly benefited communities, individual workers and their families. Although our nation is in a tough situation, we have a golden opportunity to make things better. The current labor law system is broken. The Employee Free Choice Act holds the key to leveling the playing field for America's workers. Workers should be able to unite with their fellow co-workers and bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

While families may need a running start from government programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program, Medicaid and school free-lunch programs, part of the dignity of work, and in particular public sector work, is that it helps people become self-reliant. Good jobs also benefit the economy-as more folks enter the middle class and pay taxes, we are creating a stronger revenue base and a stronger America.

Photo credit: The WB