Historic: Bernie Sanders Files Sweeping Labor Bill Eliminating ‘Right-To-Work’ Laws [View all]

[Fawke Em]

There is no denying the United States has an enormous problem with wealth inequality. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, it is shameful how little income mobility the average American worker actually has. Part of the reason for this, is the roadblocks Republicans have put up to keep hardworking people from unionizing, because of their desire to protect corporations’ bottom lines. Fortunately for us, Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders is putting workers’ rights before CEO bonuses and introduced a bill on Tuesday that would make is easier for workers to band together and demand better pay — and treatment — from their employers.

In March 2015, Scott Walker “proudly” made Wisconsin the 25th right-to-work state, dealing a devastating blow to workers in the state. Right-to-work laws are the right-wing’s favorite way to eliminate the power of unions in their states. They sell it to their constituents as a “protection” for employees against unions, but what the laws really do is leave them vulnerable to the corporations they work for. In Florida, for instance, a worker can be arbitrarily fired and negotiating higher wages is almost unheard of. Sanders’ bill would no longer allow state preemption of federal labor laws and, most importantly, it would make right-to-work laws a thing of the past.

If passed, the Workplace Democracy Act, sponsored by Sanders and Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan, would rectify current laws that deny American laborers their fundamental right to elect people to represent their best interests and negotiate the “terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection” on their behalf.

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/historic-bernie-sanders-files-sweeping-labor-bill-eliminating-right-to-work-laws/

Go, Bernie, Go!