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The Fight for Fifteen: The Right Wage for a Working America
The fight for a higher minimum wage has become the biggest national labor story in decades. Beginning in November 2012, strikes by fast food workers spread across the country, landing in Seattle in May 2013. Within a year, Seattle had adopted a $15 minimum wage—the highest in the United States—without a bloody political battle.
Combining history, economics, and commonsense political wisdom, The Fight for Fifteen makes a deeply informed case for a national $15/hour minimum wage as the only practical solution to reversing America’s decades-long slide toward becoming a low-wage nation.
Drawing both on new scholarship and on his extensive practical experiences organizing workers and grappling with inequality across the United States, David Rolf, president of SEIU 775—which waged the successful Seattle campaign—offers an accessible explanation of “middle out” economics, an emerging popular economic theory that suggests that the origins of prosperity in capitalist economies lie with workers and consumers, not investors and employers.
A blueprint for a different and hopeful American future, The Fight for Fifteen offers concrete tools, ideas, and inspiration for anyone interested in real change in our lifetimes.
Combining history, economics, and commonsense political wisdom, The Fight for Fifteen makes a deeply informed case for a national $15/hour minimum wage as the only practical solution to reversing America’s decades-long slide toward becoming a low-wage nation.
Drawing both on new scholarship and on his extensive practical experiences organizing workers and grappling with inequality across the United States, David Rolf, president of SEIU 775—which waged the successful Seattle campaign—offers an accessible explanation of “middle out” economics, an emerging popular economic theory that suggests that the origins of prosperity in capitalist economies lie with workers and consumers, not investors and employers.
A blueprint for a different and hopeful American future, The Fight for Fifteen offers concrete tools, ideas, and inspiration for anyone interested in real change in our lifetimes.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
7 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
David Rolf
1 book2 followersDavid Rolf is a labor leader, organizer, writer, and speaker working to build the next American labor movement. He is the founder and President Emeritus of SEIU 775 and a former Vice President of SEIU International. He led campaigns that helped organize hundreds of thousands of minimum-wage home care workers, and helped lead the nation’s first two successful campaigns for $15 minimum wages in SeaTac and Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 8, 2016
David Rolf's book does three main things:
1) Addresses the strengths and weaknesses of past and present worker organizing models.
2) Dispels persistent myths about low-wage workers and the trickle-down economy.
3) Provides information about how workers can win, as an insider in the victorious $15 minimum wage campaigns in SeaTac and Seattle.
Rolf is a leader within a traditional labor union, so (1) is especially interesting. There’s a lot of material here that folks across the political spectrum could agree with. Rolf defends entrepreneurship and innovative workplaces, but he makes a strong case that we need a new kind of safety net to take care of gig and temp workers, and in turn, our entire economy. Creative organizations like the Freelancers Union and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers are starting to address this need, but work still needs to be done.
We’ve heard some of the mind boggling numbers about the minimum wage before (for every $1 added to the minimum wage, low-wage worker households put an additional $2,800/year back into the economy), but seeing them all in one handy volume is jarring. When California and New York decided to raise the minimum wage, there were plenty of pundits on TV reciting (very false) conventional wisdom about the free market. “The Fight for $15” efficiently clears things up.
Since they started raising wages, SeaTac and Seattle are also proving a lot of that “conventional wisdom" wrong. Rolf served on the Seattle Income Inequality Advisory Committee, which developed the minimum-wage policy for the city. Because of the IIAC role, he clearly understands what the opposition’s arguments are, and tells how an agreement was eventually achieved.
The interviews with workers like SeaTac ramp agent Socrates Bravo and Domino’s employee Crystal Thompson are especially compelling, and put a face to the reality of our economic choices. Hopefully stories like theirs will continue to be heard until a just system is enacted for all.
1) Addresses the strengths and weaknesses of past and present worker organizing models.
2) Dispels persistent myths about low-wage workers and the trickle-down economy.
3) Provides information about how workers can win, as an insider in the victorious $15 minimum wage campaigns in SeaTac and Seattle.
Rolf is a leader within a traditional labor union, so (1) is especially interesting. There’s a lot of material here that folks across the political spectrum could agree with. Rolf defends entrepreneurship and innovative workplaces, but he makes a strong case that we need a new kind of safety net to take care of gig and temp workers, and in turn, our entire economy. Creative organizations like the Freelancers Union and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers are starting to address this need, but work still needs to be done.
We’ve heard some of the mind boggling numbers about the minimum wage before (for every $1 added to the minimum wage, low-wage worker households put an additional $2,800/year back into the economy), but seeing them all in one handy volume is jarring. When California and New York decided to raise the minimum wage, there were plenty of pundits on TV reciting (very false) conventional wisdom about the free market. “The Fight for $15” efficiently clears things up.
Since they started raising wages, SeaTac and Seattle are also proving a lot of that “conventional wisdom" wrong. Rolf served on the Seattle Income Inequality Advisory Committee, which developed the minimum-wage policy for the city. Because of the IIAC role, he clearly understands what the opposition’s arguments are, and tells how an agreement was eventually achieved.
The interviews with workers like SeaTac ramp agent Socrates Bravo and Domino’s employee Crystal Thompson are especially compelling, and put a face to the reality of our economic choices. Hopefully stories like theirs will continue to be heard until a just system is enacted for all.
May 18, 2016
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
This was a good book that laid down the facts about the current situation the American working force is experiencing. The book was at its best when it highlighted personal stories of people.
While I'm not opposed to reading stats and data, the editing of this book didn't make reading them as enjoyable as it could have been. At times, the book would shift suddenly from personal stories to numbers in a way that didn't make for smooth reading. Still, the information in here is important and should be read if you haven't been exposed to it.
This was a good book that laid down the facts about the current situation the American working force is experiencing. The book was at its best when it highlighted personal stories of people.
While I'm not opposed to reading stats and data, the editing of this book didn't make reading them as enjoyable as it could have been. At times, the book would shift suddenly from personal stories to numbers in a way that didn't make for smooth reading. Still, the information in here is important and should be read if you haven't been exposed to it.
February 13, 2020
DNF - I read about a third of the book, but it is not what I was hoping it would be.
I wanted to read a book that looked at the economics of a $15/hr minimum wage and considered how that would impact employees, employers, and the economy as a whole, but found this to be much more of a political book instead. The author makes his position clear early, and people that agree with him will like this book and significant amount of end notes that are provided. People that do not agree with the author are unlikely to change their mind. A more neutral tone, or examining the arguments from the other side would have created a more balanced book that I would have found more engaging.
I wanted to read a book that looked at the economics of a $15/hr minimum wage and considered how that would impact employees, employers, and the economy as a whole, but found this to be much more of a political book instead. The author makes his position clear early, and people that agree with him will like this book and significant amount of end notes that are provided. People that do not agree with the author are unlikely to change their mind. A more neutral tone, or examining the arguments from the other side would have created a more balanced book that I would have found more engaging.
May 14, 2016
I received this book from Good Reads.
Well written, fact based, lots of solid information and suggestions on raising the minimum wage. I highly recommend it, especially to those who still falsely believe that prices of items go up because minimum wage goes up. Nope, it works the other way around! Prices go up and the minimum wage needs to be raised so people don't have to work two or three low paying jobs to feed their family.
The U.S. needs to stay on the Progressive and Liberal path or it will become a third world country.
Well written, fact based, lots of solid information and suggestions on raising the minimum wage. I highly recommend it, especially to those who still falsely believe that prices of items go up because minimum wage goes up. Nope, it works the other way around! Prices go up and the minimum wage needs to be raised so people don't have to work two or three low paying jobs to feed their family.
The U.S. needs to stay on the Progressive and Liberal path or it will become a third world country.
July 15, 2021
Interesting book to read when there has been such a push for $15, including big box stores and hospitals that are not unionized. I picked the book written by a west-coast SEIU union president and community organizer because I was interested in reading more about the origins of the $15 an hour movement while we are currently in a tight labor market. Currently the federal minimum wage is nearly meaningless and wages are moving up due to the contraction of the workforce and the community standard being set strangely by a decade old $15 movement started by SEIU in low wage, largely fast-food restaurant workers.
Income inequality, interesting community fights for higher wages, myths of higher wages, and a detailed analysis of the author’s fight for $15 in Seattle consumed this book.
As always, the wealth of the 1%ers is startling. 1.6 million families, those with assets above $4 million controlled 42% of total household wealth. The next 9% -- with net worth above $660,000 but below the 1% level, own 35% of household wealth. The full 90% who remain have an average of $84K in wealth (note: average versus mean) and only have 23% of American household financial value.
Rolf points out that this is not set; it is determined on movements and politics. In 1774, he shares that 7% of income (not wealth) was controlled by the 1%ers but that grew to 22% in 1929 then went down again in 1960 to 10% but has moved up to 22% by 2012 – and probably much higher today. Unfortunately, the author did not list the source of this chart but does have extensive endnotes throughout his book.
For a labor leader/author, it was disappointing he didn’t speak more to the common obstacles to workers forming unions and enjoying the power of collective bargaining. While he spoke to President Carter’s failure to pass labor law reform (but was silent on President Obama’s lack of true interest in evening the playing field), he didn’t illustrate the true issues from a worker perspective as he did with workers in the various struggles to increase their pay through community/political action.
Wage stagnation, declind of blue collar jobs, unions in decline, the gig economy that removes most safety nets for workers (including the right to organize), subcontracting, temporary work, and noncompete clauses for low wage workers were all covered fairly well.
Positive campaigns, especially Seattle’s $15 wage fight the author was in leadership, were also covered fairly well. Justice for Janitors in the 1990’s, LA’s LAANE strategy, Living Wage campaigns throughout the country and the airport fight at SeaTac would bring hope to those reading this book who had not been involved in the movement. The author pointed out that while Justice for Janitors has had success, 13 of the 20 top growing cities have no janitors who enjoy being lifted up due to collective bargaining.
The Myths of higher wages were also covered well. He points out that employers pay what they must pay, educating readers that when Volkswagen opened a factory in Tennessee, they paid $14.50 starting and $19.50 after three years versus the $67 hour average paid in Germany or the $34 an hour in the US. Some figures, including those just cited, were not comparing apples and apples – straight pay versus pay and benefits but the point was made. He also pointed out that fast-food workers in Denmark make a living wage of $20 an hour and still remain open without charging expensive prices for the products and California beloved fast food place, In-N-Out has constantly paid far more and treated workers well – and can still compete with low wage alternatives.
An updated, new edition would be interesting seeing what we have witnessed since this book was published.
Income inequality, interesting community fights for higher wages, myths of higher wages, and a detailed analysis of the author’s fight for $15 in Seattle consumed this book.
As always, the wealth of the 1%ers is startling. 1.6 million families, those with assets above $4 million controlled 42% of total household wealth. The next 9% -- with net worth above $660,000 but below the 1% level, own 35% of household wealth. The full 90% who remain have an average of $84K in wealth (note: average versus mean) and only have 23% of American household financial value.
Rolf points out that this is not set; it is determined on movements and politics. In 1774, he shares that 7% of income (not wealth) was controlled by the 1%ers but that grew to 22% in 1929 then went down again in 1960 to 10% but has moved up to 22% by 2012 – and probably much higher today. Unfortunately, the author did not list the source of this chart but does have extensive endnotes throughout his book.
For a labor leader/author, it was disappointing he didn’t speak more to the common obstacles to workers forming unions and enjoying the power of collective bargaining. While he spoke to President Carter’s failure to pass labor law reform (but was silent on President Obama’s lack of true interest in evening the playing field), he didn’t illustrate the true issues from a worker perspective as he did with workers in the various struggles to increase their pay through community/political action.
Wage stagnation, declind of blue collar jobs, unions in decline, the gig economy that removes most safety nets for workers (including the right to organize), subcontracting, temporary work, and noncompete clauses for low wage workers were all covered fairly well.
Positive campaigns, especially Seattle’s $15 wage fight the author was in leadership, were also covered fairly well. Justice for Janitors in the 1990’s, LA’s LAANE strategy, Living Wage campaigns throughout the country and the airport fight at SeaTac would bring hope to those reading this book who had not been involved in the movement. The author pointed out that while Justice for Janitors has had success, 13 of the 20 top growing cities have no janitors who enjoy being lifted up due to collective bargaining.
The Myths of higher wages were also covered well. He points out that employers pay what they must pay, educating readers that when Volkswagen opened a factory in Tennessee, they paid $14.50 starting and $19.50 after three years versus the $67 hour average paid in Germany or the $34 an hour in the US. Some figures, including those just cited, were not comparing apples and apples – straight pay versus pay and benefits but the point was made. He also pointed out that fast-food workers in Denmark make a living wage of $20 an hour and still remain open without charging expensive prices for the products and California beloved fast food place, In-N-Out has constantly paid far more and treated workers well – and can still compete with low wage alternatives.
An updated, new edition would be interesting seeing what we have witnessed since this book was published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2021
I don't agree with the author's perspective, and I hoped this book would lay out a convincing argument for a $15 minimum wage so I could be better informed. The first few chapters of the book greatly disappointed me. The points made seemed emotional, without logical reasoning behind them, and actually almost seemed like arguments AGAINST a $15 minimum wage. Fortunately, the book got on track when it delved into the history of the movements in Washington. That section had interesting information, and then the author moved on to actually making some reasonable, fact-based arguments by the end of the book. If I were the editor, I'd throw out most of the beginning of the book!
What I really would have liked to see more of were details about why workers' current wages weren't enough to support them. The book ventured into that more than I expected, actually, with a sample budget given at one point, but I would have liked more real-world examples. There were a lot of real people mentioned in the book, with information about their wages, but then we were just told that they couldn't support themselves on those wages and the book moved on.
For example, the book tells us about Alex Hoopes, a baggage handler making $9.50 an hour in 2013. We're told that he rents a room for $150 per month and doesn't own a car. So it sounds like he has about $1500 per month to spend, after paying his housing expenses, and he doesn't have a car payment. Why isn't $1500 enough? The book says that "just paying for health care costs kept Hoopes one step ahead of debt collectors," but there's no information about his health care expenses.
I didn't really expect thorough coverage of real individuals' budgets, but we got just enough information to make me crave the details!
I still disagree with the author's perspective, but by the end of the book he had made many good points and given some interesting history. I just wish the first few chapters had been omitted and the examples had been fleshed out some more.
What I really would have liked to see more of were details about why workers' current wages weren't enough to support them. The book ventured into that more than I expected, actually, with a sample budget given at one point, but I would have liked more real-world examples. There were a lot of real people mentioned in the book, with information about their wages, but then we were just told that they couldn't support themselves on those wages and the book moved on.
For example, the book tells us about Alex Hoopes, a baggage handler making $9.50 an hour in 2013. We're told that he rents a room for $150 per month and doesn't own a car. So it sounds like he has about $1500 per month to spend, after paying his housing expenses, and he doesn't have a car payment. Why isn't $1500 enough? The book says that "just paying for health care costs kept Hoopes one step ahead of debt collectors," but there's no information about his health care expenses.
I didn't really expect thorough coverage of real individuals' budgets, but we got just enough information to make me crave the details!
I still disagree with the author's perspective, but by the end of the book he had made many good points and given some interesting history. I just wish the first few chapters had been omitted and the examples had been fleshed out some more.
July 28, 2018
The first part is a history of how labor organizers fought and won a $15 minimum wage in the Seattle-Tacoma area, and the second is a quick overview of the economic arguments for said policy. The public policy ideas of the book aren’t far-fetched, but I wish Rolfe spent more time on refining his economy analysis. Additionally, his recount of the Seattle-Tacoma campaign would have been more engaging if we had more background on some of the profiled individuals - we really didn’t get more than a quote or two from them. Rolfe attempts to do too many things in one short volume, and this really wasn’t the deep dive about labor economics and organizing I was expecting.
December 15, 2023
Super interesting read backed up with plenty of research supporting a higher minimum wage. Also touched on a real-world application of a higher minimum wage in the Seattle area. I really enjoyed the section that debunked common myths that people eat up such as "mostly teenagers work low wage jobs"). I would like to learn more of how a higher minimum wage may negatively affect small businesses (it was touched on briefly), it seemed like this book was more targeted towards the McDonald's and Walmart's of the world.
April 11, 2019
I wasn’t sure what to expect given the author’s leadership of the SEIU 775 which was a critical force in the battle for Seattle’s $15 minimum wage... but David Rolf does an excellent job describing opportunities for pay equity that do not necessarily involve formal organizing. Whether or not you are “pro labor”, you will definitely walk away with a greater appreciation for the problems we face today and the policy options we have at various levels of government to fix them.
June 3, 2023
While this book specifically addresses the 15$ movement, the books message about raising the minimum wage goes past that number. Rolf covers well the detriment of inequality and the way a minimum wage increase can play a role in lessening that gap.
June 17, 2023
Excellent overview of the efforts to increase the minimum wage in the States. Book is already a bit out of date and an updated edition is necessary in the coming years to capture some of the COVID era and recent set backs.
October 11, 2017
An excellent, straightforward argument for increasing the minimum wage to a living wage.
July 16, 2019
Good step-by-step actionable advice. Presentation is a little boring.
November 10, 2020
read for term paper research
April 13, 2016
David Rolf's detailed case for a living wage in America is most aptly compared to Naomi Klein's work - it's a policy nerd's dream, packed with big ideas, facts, evidence and history, and it manages to stay engaging and hugely readable on every level.
This is a book that preaches to the choir but isn't satisfied with that. It reaches for people not yet convinced, and it doesn't insult them while it does so. It's clear that the author respects every reader, and understands that labor's models must change with the world workers now face, and must adapt in order to survive.
This is a book that preaches to the choir but isn't satisfied with that. It reaches for people not yet convinced, and it doesn't insult them while it does so. It's clear that the author respects every reader, and understands that labor's models must change with the world workers now face, and must adapt in order to survive.
April 21, 2016
An excellent read that lays out the realities that face modern American workers in a quickly changing economy that seems hell-bent on leaving them behind. However, The Fight for Fifteen is not a typical doom and gloom piece. David Rolf offers up smart, innovative ideas that just might successfully propel organized labor well into the 21st century and beyond – building a strong middle class in the process.
May 29, 2016
What an interesting book that I have to say I really enjoyed and at the same time was data overloaded on occasion. This book has all the information you would ever want on the subject. After reading all the other reviews I can only say that all the 4+ Star review are all spot on! I would rate it a solid 4+ Stars I won this great book on GoodReads and like I do with most my wins I will be paying it forward by giving my win to my kids, a friend or a library to enjoy.
April 21, 2016
WOW! What a great analysis of an historic moment we are currently living in. This well-researched book provides a strong case for combating income inequality in today's world, and is a must read for anyone interested in current economic trends, worker's rights, or movement building. Highly recommended.
May 13, 2016
Trying to make up my mind what is best policy, and this book helps lay out the issues from one point of view.
September 20, 2016
An excellent book that outlines why it's absolutely necessary that we have a $15 minimum wage.
February 3, 2018
"Flipping burgers do not require a $15 wage! Want more money? Get a better job!" This is a very simplified summary of how people reacted to protests in late 2012 to fast food workers, home carers, convenience store employees, etc. to walking off their jobs to protest wage theft, the inability to form a union and the fact that wages in places like the fast food industry simply cannot and do not provide enough income for people to save and live upon without multiple jobs.
Author Rolf takes a look at the history of the movement, from how we got here and to why we are at this point. Everything from political decisions to business moves to tracing the path of unions (Rolf is also currently the president of a union), Rolf gives us an overview of the movement, with discussions of what happened in places like Seattle, New York and San Francisco.
It wasn't a bad read and I thought it would be especially helpful since while I did not follow the initial protests closely nor do I consider economics/finance/business a strength I thought this would be a good pickup. If you're completely unfamiliar with the movement and haven't followed the conversations about this, the book might be a good read. As for me I felt it was a little repetitive, a little too basic and I was surprised at how much I already knew. Maybe not the specific details and stats but I understood the gist of much of his arguments and stances and was a bit disappointed it was more about "how we got here" vs. "where we go from here."
He does address the future and how we move forward but I also wish he had more discussions about places that are not Seattle, SF or NY. I fully understand why he'd give more focus to those areas but one nuance to the argument includes whether the Fight for 15 needs to be adjusted for areas that do not have the same expenses/standards of living and whether some place like SF or NY might need even *higher* wages above $15 whereas some place like say Topeka, KS (for example) would find a $12 wage more sustainable vs. $15. This book doesn't quite address that which is fine. It just means I need to go elsewhere in light of tracking this particular topic within the conversation.
As others say, sometimes there's a lot of data/info drops which can be a turnoff or overwhelming. YMMV though.
Interesting book but not quite what I was looking for and perhaps misses certain points in the discussion. Still not a bad read, though. Would recommend it as a borrow.
Author Rolf takes a look at the history of the movement, from how we got here and to why we are at this point. Everything from political decisions to business moves to tracing the path of unions (Rolf is also currently the president of a union), Rolf gives us an overview of the movement, with discussions of what happened in places like Seattle, New York and San Francisco.
It wasn't a bad read and I thought it would be especially helpful since while I did not follow the initial protests closely nor do I consider economics/finance/business a strength I thought this would be a good pickup. If you're completely unfamiliar with the movement and haven't followed the conversations about this, the book might be a good read. As for me I felt it was a little repetitive, a little too basic and I was surprised at how much I already knew. Maybe not the specific details and stats but I understood the gist of much of his arguments and stances and was a bit disappointed it was more about "how we got here" vs. "where we go from here."
He does address the future and how we move forward but I also wish he had more discussions about places that are not Seattle, SF or NY. I fully understand why he'd give more focus to those areas but one nuance to the argument includes whether the Fight for 15 needs to be adjusted for areas that do not have the same expenses/standards of living and whether some place like SF or NY might need even *higher* wages above $15 whereas some place like say Topeka, KS (for example) would find a $12 wage more sustainable vs. $15. This book doesn't quite address that which is fine. It just means I need to go elsewhere in light of tracking this particular topic within the conversation.
As others say, sometimes there's a lot of data/info drops which can be a turnoff or overwhelming. YMMV though.
Interesting book but not quite what I was looking for and perhaps misses certain points in the discussion. Still not a bad read, though. Would recommend it as a borrow.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews