High school students strike for better jobs

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A group of Lexington students are speaking out about something many of them don’t even have yet, jobs.

15-year-old Sofia Wu is a member of Sunrise Movement Lexington, a chapter of a national organization dedicated to job security and ending the climate crisis.

She says it’s important to make their presence known, which is why on Wednesday they went on strike.

“We’re out here, we care, we’re sacrificing our educations to be here because that’s how important of an issue this is,” Wu said.

She says the burden of climate change falls heavily on the younger generation’s shoulders and they’re being forced to take things into their own hands to create a better future.

“We are here contacting our representatives and calling upon them to sign onto the good jobs for all pledge that sunrise movement nationally has released but further then that we’re also wanting to call upon our community to wake up and see this is a problem. This is something that is worth fighting for,” Wu said.

16-year-old Caroline Caldwell says it’s important to get the community involved so real change can happen.

“Our goal is to have congress pass legislation that would allow local offices to give folks. Anybody who wants a job, a good job, can get one,” Caldwell said.

She says a good job includes the ability to unionize, a $15 minimum wage, and the ability to provide for themselves.

Caldwell says she got involved with this movement because it relates to her passion, healthcare for all.

“Good jobs is the first steps towards ensuring that everybody can get the healthcare that they need and deserve,” Caldwell said.