Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders calls Congress to protect unions, raise minimum wage to $15
WASHINGTON (MEDIA GENERAL) – At a rally outside the Capitol on Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) demanded Congress take immediate steps to protect workers from companies retaliating against them for joining unions.
Surrounded by employees who’ve claimed workplace discrimination, Sanders urged lawmakers to punish companies he believes unfairly target workers that even consider organizing together.
“Our job is to make it easier for employees to join unions, not harder, that is what this legislation is about,” shouted Sen. Sanders to a crowd of supporters and national media. In the background, dozens of men and women worse shirts with the phrase “Good Jobs Nation” and held signs pushing for Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
“Management retaliated by firing me and one of my co-workers in the ICU,” claimed Allysha Almada, a registered nurse from Pasadena, Calif. Almada urged Sanders and other members of Congress to protect workers, like herself, who feel threatened and intimidated because of anti-union hostility.
After the event Sanders, who will face off against Hillary Clinton in a debate next week, spoke with reporters about the campaign trail, workers’ rights and if his own legislation is geared towards the campaign.
“It’s not a question of winning, this is legislation that I have supported since the first year I was in the Congress,” said Sanders while surrounded by supporters.
The first Democratic Presidential debate will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Las Vegas.