by LaTwyla Mathias
1. Raise the Minimum Wage
Look, y’all already know that we’ve been advocating for raising the minimum wage for years. If you’re reading this, then you know it is crucial to ensuring economic equity and stability for workers. A higher minimum wage can help lift individuals and families out of poverty, which is good for everybody! But it also can help everyone gain financial independence, which can mean better housing, better transportation, and a better life. It also stimulates the economy, which benefits our communities. Raising the minimum wage is a no brainer!
2. Collective Bargaining
If you believe in the community, then you know that collective bargaining is essential to empowering workers and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace. Collective bargaining provides workers with a unified voice to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions, fostering a more equitable balance of power between workers and employers. Y’all know we love unions over here! Collective bargaining enhances job security, promotes workplace safety, and often leads to improved productivity and morale by addressing workers’ needs. Additionally, collective bargaining strengthens YOUR VOICE in the workplace, giving workers a platform to participate in decisions that affect their livelihoods.
3. Paid Sick Leave
Listen, we all get sick. Having paid sick leave protects not only our health but everyone else’s health. Paid sick leave allows employees to take necessary time off to recover from illness or care for a sick family member without risking losing their livelihood. Paid sick leave helps prevent the spread of contagious illnesses in workplaces and communities, creating healthier environments for everyone. Paid sick leave is especially critical for low-wage and frontline workers, who often face the most significant barriers to accessing such benefits. We learned this the hard way in 2020. We can prioritize the well-being of individuals and families which benefits everyone.