I read the artilcle and must say first, they should be glad they had a job, second, why would you stay at the same job part time with no benefits and low pay that long? Third, It made them get off their but and start a new business and now will find out what it is like from the other side, that is unless they do this under the table and that speaks for it'self.
Fourth, I believe the employer ASK them to give not took it like the unions and then use it as they wish.
It was the employees choice to give or not and they did not.
If keeping Obama in is that important to them then give to Obama. It does not seem that Obama has made their plight any better.

Finally I would say their is lots more to this story than the author would like you to know plus the employer is the winner in this story because they no longer have this person on the pay role.