Embargoed until Noon CONTACT: James Adams (202) 536-7880
July 23, 2012 james.adams@thisisourdc.org
BAIN IN OUR BACK YARD
Michaels Arts & Crafts, Burlington Coat Factory, Dunkin Donuts, Outback Steaks, ToysRUs
200 PROTEST BAIN CAPITAL BUSINESS & MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYERS AT SILVER SPRING’S CITY PLACE MALL
Burlington employees say working at Bain Capital’s Burlington means below poverty line earnings
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Led by a drum line, and a caricature of presidential candidate “Pimpin Romney“ more than 200 Washington area residents marched through City Place Mall drumming up support for increasing the federal minimum wage. The Mall march ended at Bain Capitals Burlington Coat Factory where workers called for an increase in the minimum wage. Banner’s reading “ Burlington Minimum Factory , Bain’s Burlington equals minimum wage and the 99% need a raise” were hung from each of the Malls four floor railings. Candidate “Pimpin Romney” delivered a stump speech detailing the Romney Economy and his exploits of workers at Bain Capital. The demonstrators also marched to the City Place Outdoor Fountain where minimum wage workers and Bain workers shared stories of survival when earning minim wage.
“I lived in a shelter for five years while I worked a minimum wage job. I saved for three years and today I all have a room in a house with eight men. I can’t do anything special for my children, at 50 years old I deserve better”, says minimum wage worker Lenard Showell.
Minimum wage workers at many Dunkin Donut franchises don’t get paid sick leave and they are prohibited from accepting tips. Many Michael’s minimum wage workers have their hour’s tied to their store’s weekly profits. Scores of Bain Burlington workers were fired from high wage jobs, and then rehired at or near minimum wage.
The 99% need a raise. Middle class jobs are being replaced minimum wage work. The three year anniversary of the last minimum increase is July 24, in those three years CEO pay has gone up 725 percent, the 99% need a raise.
The minimum raise can’t support area families. At $7.25 an hour the federal minimum wage amounts to $15,080 a year, that’s more than $7000 below the federal poverty line. Maryland and Virginia tie their minimum wage to the federal wage. The District’s minimum wage is $1 dollar higher than the federal minimum.
Several Bain Capital and other minimum wage workers will be available for interviews.
Todays Action
WHAT: Bain / Minimum Wage Protest
WHEN: Monday, July 23, at 12:30 P.M.
WHERE: Inside City Place Mall
ITINERARY: 12:30 – 1:00 PM March from lower level food court to fifth floor the Burlington Coat Factory.
1:00 P.M. – 1:30 March from Ellsworth Avenue to Rally at Outdoor Mall Fountain
Site contact: James Adams – 202.536.7880
Twitter @thisisourdc