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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen Four Jobs Aren't Enough: Why We Need a Living Wage
When Four Jobs Aren't Enough: Why We Need a Living Wage
Tuesday, 02 September 2014 10:31
By Robin Marty, Care2 | Op-Ed
By all accounts, Maria Fernandes was a hard worker. A person would have to be, in order to keep up with four different jobs. Its that hard work that killed the 32-year old-woman, according to news reports, as the exhausted low wage worker died of inhaling fumes while grabbing a short nap in her car between work shifts.
Fernades was juggling jobs, two of which were at local Dunkin Donuts businesses, and trying to sleep in parking lots in the moments between the end of one and the beginning of another. Her last attempt at rest was fatal, as officers report she must have succumbed to fumes of a gas can in her car that had tipped over, as well as carbon monoxide from the engine she kept running.
Fernades allegedly kept the can for emergencies because she had once run out of gas traveling between shifts.
She used to work like three shifts every day, one co-worker told the local news. Sometimes she wouldnt sleep for five days.
Fernandess case of working to death may seem extreme, but, as NJ.com reports, its a situation that many could be facing as the economy recovers but high paying and full time work still has dwindled into nothing. Many are working multiple shifts at a variety of low wage, part time positions in an attempt to earn enough to survive, a problem that is increased by the lack of benefits like health care insurance and paid sick time that isnt available unless you have full-time employment. .................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/25933-when-four-jobs-arent-enough-why-we-need-a-living-wage
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When Four Jobs Aren't Enough: Why We Need a Living Wage (Original Post)
marmar
Sep 2014
OP
phantom power
(25,966 posts)1. insanity
I'm sure the GOP flying monkeys are already explaining that she just made bad choices, and failed to get a STEM degree, or some fucking thing.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)2. Repugs
Probably think she was illegal and didn't deserve the jobs much less live.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)3. This is why many destitute people turn to petty crimes instead.
We need a living wage and the labor laws that were in place in California when I entered the work market in 1958 that protected the minimum wage worker from exploitation. You could work a 40 hour week back then and get by. If you were lucky enough to get some overtime or tips it was even better.