For the third time in five weeks, non-union fast food workers in a major American city are headed out on strike. Starting at 5 p.m. Central Time today, dozens of employees plan to walk off the job in St. Louis,  following similar strikes in Chicago April 24, and in New York City on Nov. 29 and April 4. Like their counterparts in New York and Chicago, the St. Louis workers are demanding a $15 an hour wage, and the chance to form a union without intimidation.

“I just feel that if we don’t stand up now, it’s never going to happen,” said Tomecka Wilson, a 32-year-old who works for the seafood chain Captain D’s. “They’re making billions off of us making little to nothing. So they can afford to share a little bit more.”

You may have heard the phrase, “the mayor’s wish list” thrown around this budget season. What exactly is on this list and how should it impact your advocacy strategy? DCFPI is here to explain it to you. 

The mayor’s proposed budget overview presentation included a list of 16 programs totaling $70 million that did not make it into the FY 2014 budget itself, but will be funded if the city’s revenue projections for 2014 are revised upward before the end of 2013. The official name of the list is the “revised revenue estimate contingency priority list.” The order of items on the list represents the order in which items will be funded if revenue collections improve at the end of FY 2014. 

Thanks to Jean Badalamenti of Miriam’s Kitchen and the Housing Issue Committee for this post.
Let's not let this man nor Mr. G die on the streets of our Nation's Capitol. Investing in the DHS Housing First (PSH) program for the chronically homeless saves lives and dollars.

Let’s not let this man nor Mr. G die on the streets of our Nation’s Capitol. Investing in the DHS Housing First (PSH) program for the chronically homeless saves lives and dollars.

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