Senator Sanders is proud to be the lead sponsor introducing the Raise the Wage Act to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. Someone working full time should not live in poverty, but that is too often the case. In fact, one in nine workers are paid wages that can leave them in poverty even though they work full time. It is unacceptable that millions of families do not know how they would get by if their car broke down, a relative became sick, or they experienced some other financial emergency. The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 is a starvation wage, it needs to be raised to $15 an hour and indexed to inflation.

Senator Sanders is also fighting to implement policies that protect and expand worker’s rights throughout the country, including the right to form unions and collectively bargain for better wages and policies in the workplace. The Senator has introduced the Workplace Democracy Act, which would allow unions to organize through a majority sign-up process. It would also eliminate so-called “right to work” laws, which have allowed states to prohibit unions from collecting fees from non-union workers who benefit from union bargaining. Furthermore, it would expand the definition of “employer” to include independent contractors and other non-traditional employees in union activities.

During the health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Sanders has fought for comprehensive unemployment insurance benefits for the tens of millions of workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Senator Sanders took to the Senate floor to defend the $600 extra weekly unemployment benefit from Republicans who threatened to hold up a pandemic relief bill over the provision. Senator Sanders will continue to advocate for policies that protect American workers and make our economy work for everyone, not just the top 1 percent.