People now have more money in their pockets, have wage wage increases for the first time in their lives because of this movement. [applause]. People in seattle, california, and new york are already on the way to 15. This group made this happen. [applause]. Real changes happening across this country. Tonight we are gathered in richmond, yolanda and lynn just welcomed us and described their lives with determination. It is a beautiful city in richmond and it is important to understand that the capital of the confederacy [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] fight for 15 fight for 15 fight for 15 fight for 15 are you serious, are you going to do this right now. When all of us have drago. Do you know what it is like to get paid 500 every two weeks . To know what it is . I have struggled to paper my sons close and that is so unfair. You guys get paid enough. You have a chance to get a union. I dont. I am out here fighting and you are going to do this right now . Around People Like Us know what the struggle is. Please, 200 weekly pay isnt enough to take care of our families. And youre doing this to us . You dont know what it feels like to be a fast food worker. You dont know what it feels like, you all all get pay, you all get salaries. I know that we got workers, we have workers in this room who left this convention and left their families behind to come here and make a better wage for america and for us. I note that it is workers from kansas city, from st. Louis, from detroit, from virginia, richmond, virginia and every county in virginia and california, and florida, and texas, and connecticut, and new jersey, boston, and new york. It is workers all across the country that are fighting for 15 any union. Do you know what it is like to have your kids homeless, sleeping in the back of a van . You will never know what that is like. They will never walk a day in our shoes. We are fighting for 15 for all workers in this country. If you want 15 senate union i want you to stand up right now. Every worker in this country, right now, get on your feet, get on your feet fifteen dollars and a union now, 15 and a union tomorrow, 15 and a union forever, for us and for our families [applause]. [inaudible] 15 any Union Fifteen dollars and a Union Fifteen dollars and a Union Fifteen dollars and a Union Fifteen dollars and a union we want 15 and a union [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] excuse me brothers and sisters could i please have your attention. We all know that we are one family in here. [applause]. We all know that no matter who the devil spends in that we win. So i ask you one thing, dont give them what they are looking for. We have already won the victory. Let this continue to be painful because we know we win. [applause]. Show me what democracy looks like. I said show me what democracy looks like. I say show me what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks Like Commission show me what democracy looks like united, united united we will never be defeated. Workers, united will never be divided. Workers, united will never be defeated. Workers, united, will never be defeated. Workers, united, will never be defeated. [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] from the leaders in this room , everybody is committed to fighting for 15 and a union for all workers in this country. And tonight, i want to talk about what yolanda talked about about why we are gathered here in richmond. The capital of the confederacy. Where Southern States, many moons ago fought to maintain slavery in our country. The legacy consequences of that slave system are still with us today. In fact, those racist cornerstones are a major reason why we need to fight for 15 and a union. [applause]. 150 years ago, the white, rich, and powerful slaveowners who dominated the Southern States declared war on the rest of the country. Those southern slave owners were supported by wealthy industrialists in the north who profited from slave labor. Using southern cotton to line their pockets with massive textile and manufacturing fortune. The wealthy white in both the north and the south were determined to protect a way of life based on ownership of black families. They were determined to maintain a government economy based on one notion, that white people were superior to black people. As our first lady, Michelle Obama reminded us [applause]. Just a few weeks ago she reminded us that in slave people built the white house and the capital just up 95 from here. Tomorrow we are going to stand together and march to an avenue that is lined with the statues that we are reminded about of the confederate leaders who fought to maintain slavery in the United States of america. We will march together to reject that tyranny and hatred. We will march together to reject that tyranny and hatred and we will march together instead to embrace democracy and freedom and equality. We will march to honor black americans who were once enslaved but broke free to fight for their own emancipation and freedom. [applause]. We will remember that after emancipation there was a time when millions of black families across the south, together with some poor white families join together to vote, organize, and mobilize for a better life. For better wages, for better schools, for education for their children and for fair treatment under the law. Sisters and brothers, we know the story of what happens when white, black, and brown people came together and united races. It was undone by wealthy white people who used intimidation and violence to suppress that growing movement for change. The wealthy few were so afraid of the power of that multiracial unity, that they use the ku klux klan and other terrorist groups to stamp out and suffocate the flicker of hope that that unity meant. But we know deep in our hearts, that for the people that have the courage to fight for freedom and emancipation, that theyre there hope to not go away inside of them, sisters and brothers, it lives on. It lived on in the movement that fought for civil rights, it lived on in the movement for union rights, it lived on in the womens right and for lgbtq equality. And it is alive right here in richmond, virginia in this room tonight. In the fight for 15, we continue to tear down the racist barriers that hold us back and we join together to make sure that we eliminate the barriers that all people of color and jobs that have always been excluded because of slavery and who have been destroyed because of the attack on unions. These barriers mean that some children go to school that you not have enough books, that do not have buses, computers, or even lunches. These barriers create a criminal Justice System that does not protect africanamerican families but in traps africanamerican families. Together, these barriers that make up racism, that live and breathe in every structure in america, the education system, the housing system, the employment system, employment system, the legal system, the criminal Justice System, the racist barriers that live and breathe throughout the United States, that keep too many black and latino families trapped in poverty. Sisters and brothers, tonight the leaders of the fight for 15 and the Union Movement are going to pledge to each other that we are never going to ignore this reality. [applause]. We will never create an economy that works for all of us if any black, latino, asian, native American Family is left behind. We cannot succeed if any person in our country is thrown away because of his race or her heritage. We will win when we draw on the strength of each of us to create a more just society, when we realize that we are all in the same boat. Whether jobs are excluded because of the racist structure of our history of slavery, or whether middleclass jobs were destroyed because of the attack on unions. We are in in the same boat, and building this union the is especially important this year. With this president ial election, we all know that one of the candidates for president is very dangerous. We know that one of the candidates for president is trying to scare people. If one time, most workingclass white families in america could count on solid Economic Security because they wanted to through their union, but then corporations weaken their union, pushed on their wages, and took away their pensions and undermine their confidence about the future. It is understandable that some white workingclass families are angry. We cannot cannot afford to let our fear about tomorrow or, divide our unity today. [applause]. I and deeply hopeful that our movement will keep growing. We heard people welcomed in this room that have not stood with the fast food leaders before. We welcome nail salon workers and poor Truck Drivers and Grocery Store workers, and t mobile workers. We are expanding this movement for change alongside adjunct professors in Higher Education faculty. And airport workers and janitors, and security offers a nursing home workers and home care workers, and child care workers. The success of this movement shows how much change and progress happens when we build and organize together. That is the fundamental reason why it is so important to keep fighting until each and every worker in this country, 64 Million People have got to get on a path to 15. 8 union and build a middleclass job for everybody in this country. [applause]. Sisters and brothers, we know that when mcdonalds workers win, we all win. We pledge to the fast food workers, the leaders of this movement that we will be there. Not to just build your organization, but to extend a hand to every other worker so they can jump on the bandwagon the fast route workers created. When fast food workers win, we all win. You work hard, you should should be paid more, you should not need to or use food stamps to feed your children. The tax money that we spend on food stamps for jobs at mcdonalds, wendys, Burger King Burger king is better spent on homecare and childcare for seniors and children. And im better pay for the people that provide that care and support. We will continue to call on politicians to do more to help working people win higher wages. We will keep keep building the movement of 64 million working people. We will make every candidate at every level of government, from the school board to the city council, to the state legislature, to stand up for us and support the freedom to join together and when unions and win 15 per hour. We will keep growing an army of political activists to lead the charge. This movement is bigger than ourselves. Powerful powerful enough to take on corporate interest in extremist who want to keep wages as low as possible. Of movement that will help shape public opinion, bill political will, make progress on racial and immigrant justice, and fight for any economy that works for all of us. I know that everyone in this room believes that we can win. Do you believe sisters and brothers . [applause]. I believe eyes. I believe. I believe. I believe that we. I believe that we. I believe that we will when. I believe that we will win. I believe that we will win. I believe that we will win. I believe that we will win i believe that we will win i believe that we will win i believe that we will win you need to hear about the incredible progress that your movement is making. I want to go how are you guys doing . [applause]. Thank you for those kind words. My name is adriana. I am from chicago, where a chicago . I am a mcdonalds worker, im im also a single mom of a 4yearold boy. Im here to tell you a little bit about how chicago has made victories. Our mayor who has never been for raising wages, like never ever. He was up for reelection and of course the fight 15dollar came along and he saw how powerful we are. We are extremely powerful. He realized that the only way he was going to get reelected was is if he was going to raise the minimum wage. Guess what . He did that. He got reelected and guess what . Chicago is now on the pathway to 13 by 2019. [applause]. I know its not 15 right, but it is a step forward. We are going to keep pushing. Because we. Because we are powerful. We are 64 million workers do not make 15 per hour. That is not right. We are going to keep pushing these politicians until they come get our boat. [applause]. They are going to come and get our vote because they have to work for us. They have to make it right for us, we are the working class. So then we also want paid six sick days in november. So when the president is elected, mail, female, republican or democrat, we are going to be other than a day where going to show them that we are going to stay. We are here to stay because they are going to work for us. This movement is here to stay. You are stay. You are very powerful, do not ever forget that. [applause]. And now we welcome cynthia. [applause]. My name is cynthia, i am an early educator from san bernardino, california. For the past 17 years my greatest joy has been teaching our littlest learners. Even a greater joy is when children in my care grow up and attend college. [applause]. A few weeks ago i got a call from a former student. He called to tell me that he has been accepted to ucla. I am so proud of him. [applause]. He is an example of how access to Early Education is the foundation that creates powerful, powerful academic success. Early education and Higher Education contribute significantly to a creative mind. Creative Creative Minds is what improve our economy. The reality is, Higher Learning and Early Learning are in crisis. Childcare workers struggle to make ends meet. Parents struggle to pay for childcare. College cost too much for students to get a degree, catholic workers and even professors are living in poverty. That is why childcare and Higher Education are in the fight for 15. [applause]. In california we won millions for early childcare and for Early Education. We even got the wage to 15 per hour. [applause]. Childcare is in the news. It is a priority for this election. Thousands across the country have formed a union. We are including pay graduate students, tenured faculty are also joining the fight for 15. [applause]. Together we shall win. [applause]. Thank you. Those who need medical care. Its time for us to stand up and be valued. [applause] we are winning fights every day and here are some of our victories. Workers in minnesota, maryland, massachusetts, pennsylvania and washington have one their fight. [applause] way, what . Let me repeat myself. Hospital workers in massachusetts, maryland, minnesota, washington and pennsylvania have won their fight. [cheering] nursing home workers in my home state of connecticut, florida and pennsylvania have won their fight to be seen. [applause] home care workers in oregon, massachusetts and washington have won their fight to be seen. [applause] Community Care workers in canada in this fight won their fight with six teams. And let me add minnesota and pennsylvania have won their unions. [applause] closer to home i had a poll worker of mine who was on the path of determination to elect me. Thanks to her union they stepped in and they saved his job. So why see that and i want to set the trend not just here in my home state, here at va around the world. [applause] thank you steven lynn from the nursing home and home care fight for 15. Amazing victories and now Norma Esmeralda says barros from Property Services in denver. Norma. [speaking spanish] [applause] good afternoon everybody. I am a janitor, im a proud janitor from, and member of the local 105 in denver. [speaking spanish] [speaking spanish] there is a Bright Future but we must work in order to achieve it. [speaking spanish] and the last contract we actually one vacation and also medical insurance. [applause] [speaking spanish] but of course we have had to fight to keep those rights. [speaking spanish] [applause] with a new contract we racks are able to get every janitor at minimum wage to 15. [applause] [speaking spanish] she said it was very powerful she had two jobs and she was able to quit the second one. [applause] [speaking spanish] yes we can. Thank you so much to the janitors in denver for showing us we can win 15. [applause] and now sisters and brothers i want you to hear from a fast food leader from the National Organizing committee. How are you guys doing today, how we doing tonight . I am from boston massachusetts. Im 25 years old. [applause] i work at mcdonalds as a security guard. And yes, mcdonalds has security, its crazy. The reason why i am on the stage today is to let you know that we are winning. We are fit tory is in our battle against the corporations. We are winning not only locally but nationally. What im trying to say is, we are working people, standing united to create a change in our economy and in our lives. [applause] in other words, we are a union. We are a union. So im just going to let you in on a couple of local victories that we had. In houston texas, where is houston . In houston texas, i heard a story. It was 165 degrees. You all locked out of your job, got 100 signatures limit the Franchise Owner and to let him know he were not going to stay working in conditions like that. And what did you all get . Another victory, a lot of cities here from boston to california going awfully up to new york all the way down south. A lot of cities winning today. A lot of cities are winning paid sick days and the last figures from my hometown, for my hometown. We have paid family leave which means that the little man gets back get sick mama can take stay home and take care of the little one. I want to thank you all for my time. I appreciate you all and we are fighting. Thank you dairy is. Sisters and brothers in the progress for the fight for 15 we have won a lot, dont you think . Have we got more to win . We have a lot more to win and tonight we are linking our fight to win Racial Justice right alongside of winning Economic Justice because we cant win one with the out the other. Is that Wright Brothers and sisters . [applause] when we did this kind of reform to our union in march of last year, one of the fast food leaders in st. Louis told us this story that his 2yearold daughter was going to open a history book someday and read about the fight for 15 movement and the changes it made. [applause] and i want the leaders in this room to take pride in the history that you are making and the fundamental change that we can win together building a powerful Multiracial Movement that is not going to let any wealthy special interest divide other ever again because we are not stopping until 64 Million People come out of poverty paying jobs and we end racism and by an immigrant justice and clean our area once and for all. Is that Wright Brothers and sisters . Do you believe . Say it with me. I believe, i believe that we, i believe that we can win. I believe that we can win. I believe that we can win. [applause] [chanting] i believe that we will win. I believe that we will win. [applause] good evening everybody. How are you all doing out there . [applause] i like the way you all look. Sorry for any technical difficulties. For those of you who know me, how are you all doing . For those of you who dont im 25 years old. I live in north carolina. [applause] i am a worker at mcdonalds making 8. 15 an hour. Im also a single mother of one. Hey justice. And one more thing i would like to let you all know that i am one of your original workers who walked off my job in november 2012 and im still here and im still fighting, cant stop, wont stop. With that being said. How are you while doing brothers and sisters . [applause] my name is laura. I am a fastfood worker representing florida. [applause] im sorry, i didnt hear my city. We are florida. I am 19 years old. I agitate, i educate and i organize. I know thats right. We are the florida organizing committee. This is so beautiful right now. This is looking really good out here. Everyone in this audience right now, just take one second and look around this room. This is power. This is power. It is beautiful but you know ive got something on my mind. I have been thinking. We have been doing this for a while now. Yeah we have. There is always one thing that has always stood out to me. Whats that . There are 64 million, you heard right, 64 million workers now today. They are making less than 15 an hour. Are you serious . Do you know what this means . Means . What does it mean . Everyone in this room right now is holding the same vote. But let me explain though. My sister right here is an health care and my brother here is in childcare. My brother overhears a teacher. My sister right here is making making with the union that you have my brother right here making 8. 75 with no union. We are at 15 an hour in the union. I know thats right. If you think about it, good jobs that were once middleclass jobs , they dont exist anymore. Retail and fast food are the largest industry today. Really . Right. But this is. We come together and realize that we are all in the same vote and we are willing to turn that vote around. No matter who you are where you were cool make in cars, building buildings, it doesnt matter. We all deserve justice and dignity in our work. In our jobs we deserve it. These corporations and industries, they exploit people on an everyday basis to make the profits for a small few and keep the mass in oppression. Lets talk about how they cheat our black and brown and person overgrown everywhere. The decisions and policies that are made by the people with power wanting to keep all of us down. That is why its so important for us to regain our lyrical power. [applause] brothers and sisters, because of collective action brings change so lets use the power of the 64 million workers who are not making a livable wage. Lets use that and with our strength and our numbers, and im not just talking about going on strike. Im not tracking about eating on the picket fence. What. What do you mean . Thats what we do. We go on the strike line. We are holding our politicians and elected officials responsible. This 2016 election brise if you want my vote, you have to come and get my vote area. [applause] right. You are absolutely right it is we are talking about a daytoday basis. Why should we have to decide whether to pay our rent her to put food on our table . Why should we have to does decide to feed our child or go back and forth to work. We work each and every day but yet we cant afford to take care of our homes and their families . Thats today. I just started thinking about something. Isnt there more of us than there is of them . [applause] so what does that mean that we can reclaim our Political Rights and our political power in this country . Look, that wasnt even a question. You heard the audience. They are arbor day saying yes. We all in this room have been fighting and winning our victories and it shows. All we need to know is that we have got to stick together and keep fighting. [applause] with that being said, or others and sisters, tomorrow we will be rolling out rolling up our sleeves and digging in on how to build power within ourselves, because it is our duty to make sure that our voices are heard, but heard as a collective together. [applause] so what is better than marching down monument avenue with reverend barber in virginia the former capital of the confederacy. What is better than that . [applause] brothers and sisters. Together we will turn the boat around. [applause] all right guys i want you to keep the energy flowing. Right now we have leeann and coming to the stage to give them a big round of applause, guys. Thank you. [applause] we are at the childcare workers. We love the children too. We are not in the classroom today but we have a special one for you. We fight for 15 because we believe children are the future. Come on yall. Thats right. Come on. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride. That the childrens laughter remind us how we used to be. Everybody is looking for a hero. Hands up. Someone to look up to. I never found anyone who a lonely place to be and so i learned to depend on me. I decided long ago never to walk in anyones shadow if i fail, if i succeed at least i did what i believe. No matter what they take from me, they cant take away my dignity. Because the greatest love of all is happening to me. I found the greatest love of all inside of me. The greatest love of all. Its easy to achieve. Oh yes it is. Learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love of all. And if by chance that special place that youve been dreaming of. It leads you to a lonely place, find your strength and love. [applause] come on yall. Come on, come on. [applause] i need you bought to help us. I think you ought to help us with this song. This is something we can all do together. The words say in unity there is strength. Put your hands together. In unity there is strength. In unity there is strength. I can hear you all out there. In unity there is strength. Come on and clap your hands and say, in unity there is strength. The fight is on our side. The fight is on our side. The fight is on our side and unity is strength. In unity there is strength. I cant hear you all out there. In unity there is strength. In unity there is strength. Fight for 15. [applause] good evening richmond. How are you all doing . My name is Guillermo Lindsay better known as chico. Im in minneapolis minnesota. Im a fastfood worker at mcdonalds and also part of the National Organizing committee for fight for 15. [applause] i have some announcements for you all. I know you were all tired. Kick your feet up. Im going to make this quick. Tomorrow morning breakfast starts at 7 30 a. M. Sharp and the Program Starts at 9 00 a. M. Sharp. Before 9 00 i dont know what you all are going to do. Dont call me. If you are busing home with your cities tomorrow please leave your luggage on the bus. If you are flying home tomorrow or saturday please leave your luggage in the convention center. Once again, if you are busing home with your city tomorrow please leave your luggage on the bus. If you are flying home tomorrow, saturday, please leave your luggage at the convention center. Now, if your flight is 7 00 p. M. Or before please leave right after the convention tomorrow. Once again, if your flight is 7 00 p. M. Or before, please leave after the convention. If your flight is after 7 00 p. M. , you are required to attend the march down monument avenue. If your hotel, motel or whereever you are sleeping in or the holiday inn, whatever, if its an hour away please see a city director or your organizer for details because your driver will only have one stop. Last but not least, tomorrow is going to be hot, sticky, muggy and all that magic stuff. We advise you to wear comfortable clothing and light clothing. There will be water available for you and also please, please, please be on time. What do i want you all to do . D on time. I want you all to be on time, please. Now, those are your announcements for saturday. A Music Performance by shy towns finest, a1. [applause] iamb state representative representative from the great state of south dakota. Im here at the end convention. The number one issue that i believe is going to face the state this next legislative ears going to be the potential expansion of medicaid. Governor dugard seems to want this particular program expanded and many in the legislature exposed. My name is briand and im a legislator in the district of columbia. Im here today to talk about a really important issue for the residents of the district. This year in addition to voting for a president we will be voting on selfdetermination. We are getting out the vote to show everyone across the country that we want to be the 51st state and thats because just like everybody else we fight in wars and we serve our communities and we want the same quality as all the residents in the United States. My name is alec said the issue most important to me in the 2016 election cycle is raising wages and benefits so we can grow our economy from the bottom up to the middle out. Hi its kate and im excited to be at convention today. This federal election has been a really exciting one to follow. As a female im really excited that we have as viable female as a candidate and i cant wait to see how she does. Hi im a representative from louisiana. The most important issue in my states education, education and critical services. We just had an expansion of medicaid. Nationally we are continuing to get the help we need. Louisiana is growing. Thank you very much
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