I am a cook in the US Senate but I still need food stamps to feed my children

[J_J_]

I am walking off my job because I want the presidential hopefuls to know that I live in poverty. Many senators canvas the country giving speeches about creating “opportunity” for workers and helping our kids achieve the “American dream” – most don’t seem to notice or care that workers in their own building are struggling to survive.

I’m a single father and I only make $12 an hour; I had to take a second job at a grocery store to make ends meet. But even though I work seven days a week – putting in 70 hours between my two jobs – I can’t manage to pay the rent, buy school supplies for my kids or even put food on the table. I hate to admit it, but I have to use food stamps so that my kids don’t go to bed hungry.

I’ve done everything that politicians say you need to do to get ahead and stay ahead: I work hard and play by the rules; I even graduated from college and worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years. But I got laid-off and I now I’m stuck trying to make ends meet with dead-end service jobs.

American voters should ask themselves: if presidential candidates won’t help the workers who serve them every day, will they really help the millions of low-wage American workers who they don’t know or see? I’m a Bible-believing Christian, just like a lot of the candidates. Scripture says to “Love your neighbor” and “Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you”. It’s a shame too few candidates follow the guidance of the book in which they say they believe.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/22/i-am-a-cook-in-the-us-senate-but-i-still-need-food-stamps-to-feed-my-children

[Autumn]

1. That just lays out where we are. A cook in the in the US Senate makes 12 bucks an hour

Shocking, I would never have thought that. A fucking foreign company run the cafeteria in the US Senate?

[yeoman6987]

30. Teacher for 5 years. There are school districts begging for teachers

I would try going back to teaching. Yes it is horrible he works 70 hours and on food stamps. Bringing in 3360 a month in DC is not enough money. 15 dollars a hour will raise his monthly to 4200 which may allow him to go off food stamps. Come on let's go 15 dollars an hour. It will help all workers.

[yeoman6987]

31. There is no way the personal chef makes 12 bucks an hour

I wonder if he could apply for a higher paying job in the federal government?

[Action_Patrol]

39. There are no 'personal chefs' in the senate

It's all awarded to via contract.
There was an amazing Greek spot in the Ford office building but they lost the contract. It's now a burger/sandwich cafe

[sabrina 1]

57. Those services are mostly provided by private Corporations now. So he probably works for a private

corporation.

A few years ago we tried to contact the gift shop at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. We wanted to ask about a product we thought would fit perfectly in their gift shop. Assuming that those working there were local workers working FOR the Center, we thought it possible to get an answer from them.

To make a long story short, it took three months to find out who controls the Constitutional Center's Gift Shop. We tracked it down to a German Food Company. Never heard of them before. Couldn't figure out why a foreign corporation whose products were mostly for the food service industry had the contract for the Gift Shop in the Constitution Center.

So we went back to the shop itself to talk to the person we originally spoke to, who btw, thought the product was perfect for the gift shop. We were told she was gone, the gift shop was going through some bad times regarding employees. The Rep for the Corporation, an American, who we had contacted, and who also was excited about putting the product in the shop, but could not make that decision himself, had also resigned.

Everything is now privatized, and in many cases contracts are going to Foreign Corps.

So, I do believe the OP that all he is being paid is $12 an hour. The TPP will make that even more common.

[Autumn]

60. A multinational corporation headquartered in the United Kingdom is the contractor

he works for sabrina. How's that for a kick in the ass?

[MADem]

59. He's not a "personal" chef. He is a cafeteria cook. nt

[hfojvt]

32. I make $14.67 an hour myself

so $12 does not seem shockingly bad to me. The grocery store where he works is probably paying him less.

What does seem outrageous (or would if I knew what it was) is the amount he is paying for monthly rent. Not sure what can be done about that in an urban area that is packed with people, but if I was him I would move somewhere else. Some place where I wasn't spending $1,000 a month for rent. There are grocery stores and restaurants everywhere.

[Historic NY]

37. Dc and the burbs are expensive...

Best Western room 249.00 a night and that outside the city.

[Plucketeer]

41. I'd like to see a breakdown of

just WHERE that $249.00 goes to!

[d_legendary1]

46. Mostly supply and demand

If there aren't that many hotels in DC then I expect the price go up mon! Unlike a place like Orlando, FL where there are hotels everywhere and the accomidations could be as little as $50 a night.

[Historic NY]

64. Its been steady for yrs between $150-180....

13% tax included. They said because of tourists, I called back & canceled. Found a place for 110 in Alexandria. They must think they are the Marriot or something its an old motor court with under ground parking. Ck it out Rosslyn Va.

[7962]

62. True; where I live 1k rent would get me a 2.5k sq ft house w/pool!

[abelenkpe]

43. Wonder if that job comes with pension, 401k, health care

Somehow I doubt it tho

[libdem4life]

2. Send or take this to Sherrod Brown...anonymously so you don't lose your job. He seems to be the

most courageous fighter at present. This should go on CNN or something. Maybe Big Ed on MSNBC...he'd like something else to call out the labor issue. What a travesty. Telling that it's the Guardian with the story, not the US MSM/

Edit: Maybe Steven Lesser on this board could give you some tips...he's in the Media.

[Autumn]

3. This fucking infuriates me.

k

[daleanime]

56. Amen....

[CTyankee]

4. I hope they can reach the office of Senator Warren.

She is uniquely positioned to make a big stink about this with her Repuke colleagues. The good Dems should be ALL OVER this, too!

Public shaming is a good thing!

[yeoman6987]

45. Lol. That is funny. It sounds like this just occurred

It has been going on for years not just since January. They all eat there so they know already.

[CTyankee]

48. So they all eat there. That doesn't mean they know what the cooks earn.

[yeoman6987]

52. Actually your right

It used to rude to talk about wages. I guess the Senators were right not to pry.

[CTyankee]

58. That's why I hope Warren gets this guy's story.

And all the other good Dems too...

[justiceischeap]

5. Man, the people commenting on this article

have no clue just how expensive it is to live in or near our nations capital.

What with gentrification happening left and right, there are less and less affordable areas to live.

A 500 sq. ft. studio apartment in the burbs is on average $900-1200 a month.

[jwirr]

19. I think that is happening in many large cities.

[BobbyBoring]

40. yep

I was making $11.42 an hour in the late seventies. Even though that seems like a lot at the time, it was still very difficult to pay rent and utilities and eat and I lived in the suburbs.

[Plucketeer]

42. It's no cheaper

here in the California countryside!

[CTyankee]

6. The repukes will probably shrug and say "That's what you get for not being

married!"

[malaise]

7. Post of the day

Rec

[Hiraeth]

8. Inconceivable. I wonder if it does not cross his mind to spit in their food.

[Cosmic Kitten]

20. Clean food please ;~)

[think]

9. Foreign companies & low wages. Is this the new American dream? /nt

[donnasgirl]

12. Seems so

[vkkv]

10. J_J_ - You need to come out publicly with your real, full name

and you will get the attention of the media - and hopefully Congress.

Until then, your story won't be credible, sorry to say that.

[donnasgirl]

13. The story is Credible

There are 1000's just like him.

[SheilaT]

14. I don't think the poster is the person in the article.

Someone working 70 hours a week isn't going to have the time to be on DU, and if he can't even feed his kids he's not going to have a computer.

Nonetheless, the point is a valid one about not making enough money.

[2naSalit]

23. Even if he did have

a computer, he wouldn't be able to pay for access to the interwebs.

[Action_Patrol]

50. There's free wifi at the Capitol

[2naSalit]

66. I did not know that!

Thanks. Out here in the hinterlands we pay a pretty high price for it. I have to share mine in order to pay for it, and it's kind of slow... we can't both listen to the radio at the same time. The one FM station we used to get here quit servicing our area about six weeks ago, now the only news or music I can get other than my old cassette collection is online.

[donnasgirl]

17. I had to go back and find this

Last edited Wed Apr 22, 2015, 12:23 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.demos.org/publication/underwriting-bad-jobs-how-our-tax-dollars-are-funding-low-wage-work-and-fueling-inequali

I had read this a long time ago and should help clear up many questions.

[Hiraeth]

25. Thanks for the link. It makes for some very interesting reading.

[donnasgirl]

27. You are Welcome

[PoliticAverse]

11. "Compass Group USA Named to Forbes 2015 America's Best Employers List"

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Compass Group USA was recently named to the Forbes 2015 America's Best Employers list as the highest ranked foodservice and support services company. Compass Group is among the top 20 business services and supplies companies on the list and ranked 458th overall.

From a press release issued by Compass Group (see:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/compass-group-usa-named-to-forbes-2015-americas-best-employers-list-300067871.html )

[jtuck004]

15. "My employer, Compass Group, is renewing its contract with the US government today

– but none of the senators or government officials to whom we serve food asked me or my co-workers whether this multinational corporation, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is treating American workers right."

Maybe we should first get an American company to screw them over. It's not like there is a shortage of ass clowns in D.C.

Then at least the taxes could go to pay for the food stamps.

[WillyT]

16. K & R !!!

[Omaha Steve]

18. Info on this...

Share this right now: https://www.facebook.com/GoodJobsNation/photos/a.580415778659697.1073741826.579780035389938/967159863318618/?type=1&theater

Retweet this right now: https://twitter.com/GoodJobsNation/status/590544640220258304

Follow @GoodJobsNation<https://twitter.com/GoodJobsNation/status/590514197240229890> & #Fightfor15<https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fightfor15?src=hash> for the latest

Google Drive folder for images: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz8mSupoGDkofmdxSTBYaElBWGtyTGdXY29ldzJ6WDZWMlo4TFNYZ3l5OXhhZGQtTmU2UXM&authuser=0

Sample Tweets:

1) #BREAKING: America’s Contract Workers STRIKE at the US Capitol! Mr. President, lift workers out of poverty! Sign #Fightfor15 + Union EO!

2) America’s Contract Workers call on this President or the next to sign Model Employer EO - bit.ly/1EkO90X #Fightfor15 @GoodJobsNation

3) Today @GoodJobsNation calls on this President or the next to #Fightfor15 + Union Exec Order! -bit.ly/1EkO90X<http://t.co/Rrgw7ze0ub>

Sample Facebook Posts:

STRIKE AT US SENATE & CAPITOL: America’s Contract Workers call on this President or the next to sign a "Model Employer" Executive Order - bit.ly/1EkO90X<http://t.co/Rrgw7ze0ub> #Fightfor15 h/t @Goodjobsnation

#BREAKING: America's Contract Workers STRIKE calling for a President who will #Fightfor15 + Union Executive Order! - bit.ly/1EkO90X<http://t.co/Rrgw7ze0ub> h/t @Goodjobsnation

[Hiraeth]

28. Done with pleasure. Thanks!

[heaven05]

38. thank you

K&R, bookmarked.

[Enthusiast]

21. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

This is bullshit!

Too much waste on corporate shirkers, perpetual war, intelligence spending and tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

[appalachiablue]

22. K & R. This is obscene- The New America

[Mr Dixon]

24. SAD

Sad story but this is the result of broken promises that politicians use to get voted into office and there are no repercussions by the people. Sell me dream

[fasttense]

26. For those on this board who have NOT botherred to read the rest of his story

"My employer, Compass Group, is renewing its contract with the US government today – but none of the senators or government officials to whom we serve food asked me or my co-workers whether this multinational corporation, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is treating American workers right. No-one bothered to check if the company that makes billions in profits is paying workers a living wage and offering decent benefits so we don’t have to use public aid programs to meet our basic needs. We the workers sure have an opinion when it comes to federal contract renewals – but no one cared enough to ask us.

President Obama and each presidential hopeful should have to tell all Americans whether they will stop giving US contracts to extremely profitable companies who pay their workers so little that we have to rely on public assistance programs like food stamps. Otherwise, all their rhetoric about wanting American workers to get ahead is just empty words.

My co-workers and I are on strike because we want the current president – and those running to succeed him – to make sure that federal contracts are preferentially awarded to good American companies that pay workers a living wage, offer decent benefits like paid leave and allow us to collectively bargain so that we don’t need to strike to have our voices heard."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/22/i-am-a-cook-in-the-us-senate-but-i-still-need-food-stamps-to-feed-my-children

He already has his name out there if he is on strike. The company is from the United Kingdom which is probably why this story appeared on the guardian.

But really America, are you so poor and miserly that you don't even pay your hired help a livable wage? How stingy and ignorant are most US Senators? Wow, what a pitiful country.

[valerief]

49. Definitely a pitiful country. This is what privatization brings. nt

[GeorgeGist]

29. Not every Republican is a cheapskate.

But every cheapskate I know is Republican.

[demmiblue]

33. What a disgrace. K&R

[Dems to Win]

34. The phrase 'working poor' is an abomination

People who work full time should not be poor.

There is some talk in the Congress and White House of trying to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour -- utterly inadequate, even at that wage so many working people will continue to live in poverty.

Senator Patty Murray has been more bold, seeking to build support for a minimum wage of $12 by 2020. Even the courageous proposal is utterly inadequate and would leave millions of workers living in poverty.

Time for the pitchforks. There really is no hope of working through the system, I'm very sad to conclude.

[daredtowork]

35. I thank this man for busting the lie

that politicians constantly tell about minimum wage workers being high schoolers or people trying to pick up some casual income on the side.

Minimum wage work is where the people who were unemployed by the the 2008 meltdown fell - often scrambling to put together multiple jobs like this man. And the fact these workers are right there serving Congress puts the deliberate nature of the Big Lie on the table.

[heaven05]

36. the truth

This is america, now. Corporatists/RW 'christians' want it this way. They want total control of your finances and life inside and outside ones' home. When the "shrub" claimed he was a christian, I gave up on my religion and it's activities, completely.

[Plucketeer]

44. Christians pick and choose

their guide points from their bible as most folks would select what they'd order - ala carte - from a menu.

[totodeinhere]

47. Two things. First of all raise food stamp benefits. And secondly raise the minimum wage to a living

wage indexed by location so that those in high cost of living areas get extra.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

51. Wherea crooks in the senate make at least $173,000 a year. Not counting the "contributions".

[El Shaman]

53. Enough to

make one buy 'rat poison'!!!

[closeupready]

54. I wish you well. More generally, not surprised at all by this.

We have a deeply corrupt Congress and national government; what that means is everything they say and do is merely a façade. They do next to nothing about international human trafficking, forced labor in Asia, so why would they do anything about labor abuses right here at home, unless forced to?

K&R

[JDPriestly]

55. Another reason to vote against the TPP. It will promote even more

outsourcing of jobs for educated Americans.

No to TPP. Yes to livable wages for all working Americans and help for those Americans who cannot work or cannot find jobs commensurate with their abilities.

[imthevicar]

61. time to gob in their sturabout!

[Phlem]

63. It has always been about economics.

I thought Obama was serious about this. Instead we've tackled everything else that doesn't involve economics or money.

People think social issues don't involve economics but it's the freaking back bone.

How can any of us enjoy social justice and equality when we spend every waking moment trying to pay the bills and feed our family 24/7?

I'm disappointed with a lot of people on this board who think all other issues trump economics while the 1% is beating us over the head with a stacks of Benjamin's. Buying up politicians on both sides so they win every time.

The sense of urgency in your situation is lost on some folks here. Brought up this issue early on in Obama's presidency because my close friends were going through this and it was nothing but crickets.

I'm so sorry for the situation your in. We're not far off. Don't give up.

[pansypoo53219]

65. privatization is killing workers by driving down wages.

the walmarting of amerika.

THANKS REAGAN!

[midnight]

67. kick

[lonestarnot]

68. Slave labor yet?