La lutte pour un salaire décent (living wage). Force et faiblesse d'un mouvement progressiste face à l'offensive conservatrice

Abstract

The movement for a living wage emerged in Baltimore in 1996 and soon spread around the country to popularize the demand for a basic wage that took into account the real standard of living in a given community. The main characteristics of the movement were its local and grassroots nature and its ability to bring together different progressive forces, such as left-wing unions, community associations such as ACORN, and progressive religious forces. As the movement reached its goals in most communities it became the target of a violent campaign by extreme right-wing conservative forces determined to destroy any progressive movement in the country.