In what may be a new low for a newspaper that recently seems
committed to charting new territory in its depth of uncaring, classist fear
mongering, the Providence Journal has declared low wage working mothers to be a special
interest group posing a “threat” to Providence.
Disingenuously claiming that,
“we all want workers to earn more money,” the unsigned editorial calls
mandating a $15 an hour living wage for hotel workers “an election-year stunt
divorced from economic reality.”
What is divorced from reality is the idea that a group of people
peacefully petitioning their government for relief from exploitative treatment
and a chance at decent wages should somehow be characterized as a “threat.” Is
it a threat when workers ask for fair wages? Is it a threat when workers ask
for fair treatment?
The ProJo, as usual, has it all backwards. The only threats are
coming from the hotels, and the hotels have shown that they are capable of
delivering on their threats. There are stories, more than one, of workers being
threatened with losing their jobs if they persist in trying to unionize.
Several workers, including many young mothers, have been fired. The hotels also
threaten to close up shop or stop hiring if this proposal passes.
The ProJo quotes Todd B. Finard, CEO of Finard Properties, which
owns the Providence Biltmore hotel as saying, “We pay our people well and have
labor peace. But if room rates go up, how can Providence compete?”
Guess what? The Biltmore already pays some of their workers
nearly $15 an hour. Testimony was given at the City Council meeting from a
woman who makes $14.85 cleaning rooms. She talked about how this wage allows
her to provide for her children and even save money for college, something
working women at the Renaissance for $8.50 can only dream of.
Who are these “threats” to Providence that the ProJo wants to
terrify us with? One can’t help but wonder what it is about them that the ProJo
finds so threatening…
Steve Ahlquist is
a writer, artist and current president of the Humanists of Rhode Island, a
non-profit group dedicated to reason, compassion, optimism and action. He also
maintains the blog SteveAhlquist.com where almost all his writing can be found.
The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of any organization
of which he is a member. Write him direct at atomicsteve@gmail.com.