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On the Issues
Fighting for Labor
Protecting workers' rights to bargain collectively for the greater good
The history of American economic progress is largely the story of laborers who banded together into unions, in order to bargain collectively for the dignity, respect, wages, and benefits they deserve. I understand the lessons that this history provides. And that is why standing up for workers and unions will be one of my highest priorities as president.
President Bush's record on labor is abysmal. He has taken every opportunity to weaken unions and set back the cause of workers' rights. As President, I'll take the important and long-overdue steps to assist American workers achieve better wages and benefits, access to health care, and a greater say in their working conditions. Here's what I'll do:
Raise the minimum wage. The real value of the minimum wage has declined 25 percent since 1979. A living wage for all workers was the right idea back then, and it's the right idea now. I support raising the minimum wage - and ensuring that it keeps pace with the cost of living in the future.
Empower workers to organize. As president I'll push for a "card check" law, requiring employers to recognize unions once a majority of workers have indicated their intent to unionize.
End union-busting. Harassment, intimidation, and firing of would-be organizers is, unfortunately, not yet a relic of the 1930s. It happens today. My administration will be vigilant in identifying and prosecuting such illegal activity.
Retain Federal wage provisions for workers. The government should set a good example for all employers by paying fair wages and benefits. The Davis-Bacon Act requires that federal contractors pay their workers local prevailing wages. The historic Fair Labor Standards Act solidified legal protection for overtime pay. As President, I'll protect these vital safeguards from those who want to dismantle them.
Protect workers on the job. The Bush Administration has instructed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ease penalties on employers who expose their workers to hazards on the job. Bush has also attempted to cut funding for OSHA, which employs fewer inspectors now than it did in 1980. These reckless policies put all workers at risk. I support stiff penalties for employers who violate the law, and increased funding for OSHA and its companion research agency. And I'll replace the Bush Administration's weak, voluntary ergonomics standards with real, enforceable rules that protect the health of American workers.
Promote free and fair trade. Trade has the potential to raise living standards both here and abroad, but we must ensure that the terms of trade are fair, and that we are competing on an equal playing field. Labor rights are human rights, and I'll treat them that way -- internationally-recognized core labor standards must be central elements of all new trade agreements. We must also improve our enforcement of labor provisions in existing agreements. Finally, we must be vigilant in our approach to unfair practices outside of the treaty context. For example, Bush has failed to prevent China from manipulating its currency, hurting American workers. As President, I'll do better.
Increase access to health care. My health care plan provides every single American with affordable access to health care. The plan reduces premiums for many who already have insurance through a system of tax credits. For workers without employee-sponsored health care, I also propose a new, low-cost insurance option: access to the same federal health care plan provided to members of Congress.
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