Introduction

Nickel and Dimed is a New York Times Best Seller written by Barbara Eherenreich that chronicles the author's undercover stints in low-wage jobs across the country. Eherenreich poignantly recounts her experiences in the low-wage work force, as well as the daily physical and financial struggle that is reality for countless people in today's working poor economy.

In late 2004, the Southwest Center for Economic Integrity put forth a call for submissions to low-wage workers in the Southwest Region. Specifically we were looking for non-fiction personal essays (any length up to 2000 words) and/or poems (maximum 3 poems per writer). We were particularly interested in writing pieces about low-wage work in large corporate chains, such as WalMart, chain restaurants, and/or housecleaning franchises.

Follow the links to read about these resilient, courageous low-wage workers and their stories.

"Like the Colorado River slowing tearing away at the ancient rock, so the steady flow of humanity erodes her waitress body and soul."
-Catherine J. Rourke

"One afternoon I used my break time to sit with an elderly woman who was in mortal terror of dying. Her call button was ignored by busy NAs, and she cried all the time. I held her hand, not knowing whether she could still feel my grasp, and I listened to her talk about her horror of dying alone."
-Lynn Grippo

“Get moving,” says the customer, and the customer is always certain of his own rights and never yours.
-Kindall Gray

"A common trend in the Arizona workplace is to hold your job over your head. I once had a boss tell me, This is a right to work state. I can fire you for no reason at all"
-Adam O. Yeater

"In desperation I recently visited the 'call center' - a number of them, in fact. The call center appears to be the sharecropping of the new millennium. I applied. I took the tests. I was offered a job. The job entails being available seven days a week, 24 hours a day."
-Anonymous

"I am as bankrupt as Argentina or my Uncle Jaun Charaqueado on payday. Food, gas, water, rations...I am at war with myself. "
-Aztatl (AKA) Juan Garcia

"There is of course a simpler, more realistic solution to the problem of low tips: A livable base wage. Until then, we all have our fantasies.."
-Anonymous

"On Saturday mornings, I walk the two miles starting around 6, for we have a 7:30 am mandatory pep rally, where we do the mandatory WalMart cheer. After five pep rallies, I stop cheering, I haven't learned the words. I do not feel cheerful. I hate Walmart..."
-C.J. MacLeod

"For fourteen years, my primary source of income has come from childcare. While some families have treated me with respect and gratefulness, there are certainly many families who don’t wish to pay for the responsibility or reliability that I have to offer."
-Alexandra Diaz

"It’s wrong, Just wrong, like so much else: Living in fear- Of not enough - We name greed necessity - Or pragmatism -Or insurance
When the rose is compulsion."
-Teresa Driver

More Writing to come! So keep visiting this page.

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