Effective boycotts to bring about cultural change.

One of the biggest problems working folks have these days is 24/7/365. “Essential workers” are the people who carry the load to make the world a better place because it hums along 24/7/365. Isn’t that why New York City, London, Paris, and the city of your choice do indeed hum along 24/7. The workers in these cities who provide the essential services tend to be the lowest paid workers, and if the culture supports it, they are treated like slaves.

Take the “fast food” industry in the United States, for example. A friend of mine recently accompanied a guy to an interview at one of the fast food chain places. The guy asked if he could have a schedule with every other weekend off so he could see his son per the court order. The interviewer said, very quickly and very firmly, “No, we have to be able to schedule you to meet our needs, not yours.” Will he take the job, even at higher pay, even with a sign up bonus? Would you?

Perhaps a way to get across to the “profits first 24/7” mentality would be to boycott all fast food restaurants on Sundays. Lose enough business on Sundays and upper management might get at least part of the message.

For a boycott to work, there needs to be a specific and obvious target.