.@MollyKinder recently discussed with @dollarandsense podcast host @davidrdollar her new report, “Profits and the pandemic,” which examines pay practices and financial outcomes during the pandemic-era of 22 of the nation’s largest companies. Listen here: https://t.co/OmwPOEMzZy
NEW: 14 Senate Democrats, led by @CoryBooker, sent a letter to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz demanding that the company recognize @SBWorkersUnited and negotiate a contract.
"This is an opportunity to work together with your workers instead of illegally retaliating against them."
Workers are fighting back by building collective power and unionizing. New union petitions have spiked 57% in recent months.
This worker pressure has forced corporations like Starbucks & Amazon to raise wages even as they combat the unions.
https://t.co/nvf80MZciy
Only 1 of the 22 corporations - Costco - has a minimum wage today that is close to a living wage, per researchers @MollyKinder, @StatelerLaura, and @kathrynsbach.
Most of the companies' pandemic gains went to already wealthy households.
“Wealthy shareholders, executives, and billionaire heirs and founders were the pandemic economy’s real winners, while frontline workers benefited minimally from their employer’s success,” @MollyKinder and @StatelerLaura write. https://t.co/kGUEeM9wIj
During Michelle Eisen's first 10 years working for Starbucks, it never occurred to her to form a union. But the pandemic changed that.
“We were were feeling incredibly undervalued & unappreciated”
And many workers hardly shared in their companies' gains
https://t.co/KjQ40SXcEi
Thank you for tuning into the #PandemicProfits event. A video recording will be available shortly online here: https://t.co/1Z1DN0JeIw. You can also listen to the event by downloading Brookings Events podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
.@MollyKinder: "Companies spent 5X times more rewarding their shareholders by giving them dividends and stock buybacks than they did on raising pay." That money from the 22 leading U.S. companies could have raised the median pay of their typical worker 40%.
#PandemicProfits
Thanks to @CBSNews for covering @MollyKinder@StatelerLaura and my report about profits, equity, and workers during the pandemic https://t.co/Uy9APqXWcG
Tune in on April 26 to hear @BharatRamamurti from NEC discuss the importance of improving outcomes for workers and building a more equitable economy. Register: https://t.co/LlBaYr80nw #PandemicProfits
Really interesting analysis @MollyKinder@kathrynsbach & Laura Stateler @BrookingsMetro looks at changes in profits and compensation among leading employers of essential workers.
Almost all change went to shareholder wealth, not to workers.
https://t.co/PcYgxqOoHC
On April 26, tune in to hear @kathrynsbach and @RWartzman discuss the challenges companies face to deliver on "stakeholder capitalism" commitments and the kinds of pressures that stand in the way. Register: https://t.co/LlBaYr80nw
Tune in on April 26 to hear @MollyKinder talk with @SBWorkersUnited members @michelleeisen and @michelle_hejduk about how to build a more equitable model of capitalism that rebalances power between executives, shareholders, and workers. Register: https://t.co/LlBaYr80nw