Today, Youth Producers listened to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Brian Leher and learned about how grocery delivery workers are planning a strike.
We responded to the question: Do you think that workers giving up pay to take a stand against unfair conditions will make a change? Why or why not? Here are some of our responses.
Artur: I think that workers will be able to make changes because they can arrange a boycott and not work, thereby worsening the situation for all businesses and manufacturing enterprises.
Mateo: It is not only the workers that are losing money, but also the company loses money so they will pay attention in order to get the money back or to make more money.
Khalil: I'm torn on the subject. One, you're making a change because you're telling them, "listen, I'm essential; you need me, but I'm not gonna come to work because you need to clean this place and help us not get Coronavirus because we're the only ones working. But on the other hand, you can also perceive it as not really making a change because there are a lot of people out of work right now.
Dany: I think it will make a change because people will start to knowledge the unfair conditions and it will bring more light to the situation which can make a change
Derick: I personally think it will make a change in terms of gathering a lot of people to come together and try to help each other, but will not create a huge impact that can help those that need it the most. The sad reality is that we live in a world that will always be unfair and will never become a utopian society. However, I think that it still feels good to do something like this because you know that you're not only talking about yourself and your community, but to others that live in different parts of the world and to those that think they are not significant enough to talk about and stand for. But at the end of the day, perhaps in these times where it's more crucial to fight and stand up for what's right, voices might be heard. Additionally, I think what makes a business thrive and function is when the boss (or whoever the people that are in charge of the business) and the workers depend on each other to make a change and help those that need it. A quote that stood out to me when I saw a video related to this was “He/She is not able to change the world, but he/she can change someone's world.
Starasia: I think it will make a change because it's showing that the people that are working do not only care about the money and that they are truly about what they want to do to make a change.
Lees: This question is very tricky to answer but here we go. I believe that workers shouldn’t give up pay to take a stand against unfair conditions to make a change because it screws up with their livelihood and everything they have to build up to protect their lives and the loved ones around them. But if the workers can withstand to be without pay for a long time without it affecting them or others around them then maybe they should make a statement. But on the other hand, if everyone believed that, nothing would change because nobody would stand up for themselves. This question really steps into our basic understanding of morality for us, human beings. 'Cause on one hand, if the workers were to give up pay to take a stand against unfair conditions, they would be happy with themselves or feel good about themselves, but would have to pay the price by destroying what they have worked for in their life. However, if the workers were to not give up pay to take a stand against unfair conditions, they would feel like a failure for not standing up or not be satisfied with themselves, but still be able to pay for the support they need in life to function like a human being in society.