Read (and print if possible) the following three articles:

The Guardian, “Exploited Amazon Workers Need a Union. When will they get one?”; Michael Sainato
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/08/amazon-jeff-bezos-unionize-working-conditions

The Nation, “Fighting for $15 in the Twin Cities”; Michelle Chen
https://www.thenation.com/article/fighting-for-15-in-the-twin-cities/

The Guardian, “Amazon raises minimum wage for US and UK employees”; Richard Partington
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/02/amazon-raises-minimum-wage-us-uk-employees

Your assignment is to write an essay that addresses each of the six items (outlined below) in a synthesized essay. Your response should NOT be a list and your answers should be well-developed. Be sure that you use proper essay/paragraph formatting in your paper, that it is spellchecked, and that you write and revise several drafts before submitting your final version. You must address ALL of the following points or questions in a well-developed analysis. When addressing each of the six issues below please place the number of the item in parentheses so it is clear which item you are addressing. Your paper should comprise at least 1,200 words, and it should be double-spaced. The paper must be your own work and no outside sources other than the three assigned articles, should be used. A stapled hard copy of your paper is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October 17th. Make sure that your paper is high-quality, college-level work; this will require you to think through each of these issues before, during, and after drafting your responses.

1) Address the social and economic effects to the larger community when workers are underpaid, including the transfer of corporate costs to taxpayers.

2) Address the social and economic effects to the local community when workers’ pay is increased to a fairer wage.

3) Address the social and/or economic effects to the company when worker’s pay is increased to a fairer wage.

4) Regarding Amazon’s resistance to paying local taxes in Seattle, how might Jeff Bezo’s (Amazon’s President) position affect the local community?

5) What conditions might have compelled Amazon to change its position related to minimum wage?

6) What a) large-scale external conditions, b) small-scale external conditions and c) internal workplace relations or conditions (including actions taken by workers), might encourage or compel other companies such as fast-food workplaces across the United States to increase minimum wage?