Working People: The fight to organize dollar store workers

From Dollar General and Dollar Tree to Family Dollar, dollar stores are spreading rapidly throughout Louisiana and across the country, often strategically located in low-income communities and “food deserts.” But dollar store workers notoriously have to endure low pay, understaffing, and hazardous working conditions; some workers report frequently working alone in stores and having their air conditioning controlled from corporate headquarters in another state. That's why Step Up Louisiana, "a community based organization committed to building power to win education and economic justice for all," is organizing employees, customers, and community members to fight for safer stores and better pay and working conditions for dollar store workers. In this episode, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez speaks with Kenya Slaughter, who has been an organizer and frontline worker at Dollar General for a number of years, and Curtis Williams, a dollar store customer who has gotten involved in Step Up Louisiana's campaign.<br /><br />To read the transcript of this episode and read show notes, visit: <a href="https://therealnews.com/louisiana-dollar-store-workers-cant-control-air-conditioning-in-their-own-stores" rel="noopener">https://therealnews.com/louisiana-dollar-store-workers-cant-control-air-conditioning-in-their-own-stores</a><br /><br />Featured Music (all songs sourced from the Free Music Archive at freemusicarchive.org):<br />Jules Taylor, "Working People Theme Song:<br /><br />Pre-Production/Studio: Maximillian Alvarez<br />Post-Production: Jules Taylor<br /><br />Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: <br /><br />Donate: <a href="https://therealnews.com/donate-pod" rel="noopener">https://therealnews.com/donate-pod</a><br />Sign up for our newsletter: <a href="https://therealnews.com/newsletter-pod" rel="noopener">https://therealnews.com/newsletter-pod</a><br /><br />Like us on Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/therealnew