CONTACT:
Bailey Dick, Bailey (at) jwj.org, 202-393-1044 x126
Washington, D.C. – This afternoon, Congressman Bobby Scott and U.S. Senator Patty Murray introduced the Workplace Action for a Growing Economy (WAGE) Act. In response, Sarita Gupta, executive director of Jobs With Justice, issued the following statement:
“Over the past year, millions of working people have mobilized in hopes of attaining higher wages and better working conditions. A surefire method for making our workplaces more fair is for working people to come together and stick up for each other. Plain and simple, speaking with one voice is the most effective way to raise pay and make work more just.”
“But fewer and fewer of our friends and neighbors can meaningfully access one of the most basic rights: collective bargaining. With the rules that are in place now, the deck is stacked against working people. Our current labor laws are outdated and haven’t kept up with what modern workplaces need. More employers are retaliating against those who work together to create changes at their workplace because current laws make it easy for them to do so.”
“It’s time to rewrite the unfair rules to make the system fair for working people. The WAGE Act is a crucial first step in making sure employees are protected when they work together to make their jobs better for themselves and their co-workers. The WAGE Act will discourage bully bosses from retaliating against co-workers who are just trying to do the right thing for each other.”
“Our economy is out of balance. And the WAGE Act is one of the many steps we need to take to make sure working families have a fair shot at the paychecks and workplaces they deserve.”
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