A panel discussion brought workers of the community together to discuss income inequality and unsatisfactory working conditions on Thursday.
The Arizona Faith Network and members of LUCHA, Living United for Change in Arizona, discussed the issues that minority and disability groups face. The event is part two of the economic inequality series, “A Community Conversation: Living Wage.”
The AFN is a grassroots organization advocating for civil discourse and community transformation. AFN was previously known as the Arizona Ecumenical Council prior to 2015, and their focus for 2016 is economic inequality.
The event was moderated by Hector Valdez, member of the AFN and the AZ Living Wage Coalition. He said he hoped that this panel would support the grassroots efforts made in Arizona to help middle-class workers combat economic and financial injustices.
The AFN Public Policy Commission began by defining a “living wage” – a wage that is high enough to allow a household to be financially independent and not reliant on public assistance.
“If lower-wage workers cannot hope to move up the income ladder, then they have a problem, and our country has a problem,” Valdez said. “Low wages are not just fewer dollars, it’s fewer dollars for food… childcare, education, healthcare, housing, transportation and the basic needs that every family has.”
Elva Diaz, who worked at Wendy’s for 17 years, said that despite working many positions, ranging from early mornings to late nights, she never received a raise.
“I think they need to change their ways and pay (employees) more money,” Diaz said. “If we make more money, we can pay for everything…and not have the need to rely on benefits from the government.”
The organization screened the film “Inequality for All” on Jan. 19, which highlighted the community conversation series as intriguing as it surrounds the issue of worker justice.
The top 1 percent of earners are now taking more than 20 percent of all income, and the 400 richest Americans now own more wealth than the bottom 150 people combined, according to the film.
Gilbert Romero, community organizer for LUCHA, shared his background from coming from a family of middle-class workers. He also presented the well-known “Fight for $15” campaign encouraging support and advocacy within the community.
He said that he hopes to see minimum wage rise throughout Phoenix and that he believes the city council has the power to rise the minimum wage within their own discretion.
“Birmingham, Ala. raised their minimum wage to $10.10. The minimum wage in Arizona is still $8.05, so it is the responsibility of the city council to raise the minimum wage to at least $10,” Romero said.
Romero said that intersections of race and gender have played a role in economic inequality within minorities.
“The more female you are, the more of color you are, the less money you’ll make systemically – that needs to change,” Romero said. “The first step to changing that is acknowledging that there is a problem.”
Contact the reporter at brianna.bradley@asu.edu.
