United Workers Association Wins Living Wage
For the past couple of years, I have been in support of the United Workers Association (UWA) who have been advocating for a living wage for low wage workers who clean up Camden Yards after the baseball games. UWA is a human rights group founded by day laborers in Baltimore. Unlike many other social justice organizations, UWA is led by the workers themselves and not by some high-salaried “professionals” who advocate from comfortable social standings.
Yesterday, after threatening to hungerstrike and increase their levels of protest for fair wages, the Maryland Stadium Authority agreed to increase their wages. Workers will now receieve $9.63 per hour with benefits or $11.30 per hour without benefits. The increase in wages will take place in the spring of ‘08. The workers currently make $7 per hour minus many unjust fees.
Congratulations to the United Workers Association for this victory after three hard years of organizing, grassroots mobilization, and advocacy! I enjoyed the celebration last night.