If minimum wage had simply kept pace with worker productivity since 1968, it would be over $15 today. Instead, CEOs have gotten richer and richer, while the working class struggles to get by. $15 is winnable -- but only if we speak up. A special wage board will decide by the end of June the new rate for fast-food pay in New York. If New York raises fast-food pay to $15, it will boost paychecks for 180,000 New Yorkers -- most adults, many supporting families. They deserve to be able to pay their rent and feed their families. And this action would trigger a wave of raises for low-wage workers across the country. Tell the wage board: It’s time for $15.

Americans who work full time should not have to rely on the government for food stamps and housing assistance. And taxpayers should not have to subsidize bottom-basement wages. But that’s exactly what’s happening with our absurdly low $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage. Momentum is building for the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage to $12, index it to keep pace with the median wage, and phase out the subminimum “tipped” wage. States and cities across the country have proven that raising the minimum wage doesn’t lead to job losses. In fact, it does just the opposite. It breathes new life into the local economy as workers have more money to spend at local stores and on local services. That creates jobs and economic activity. It’s simply wrong that millions of American are working full time yet still live below the poverty line. It’s bad for the country and it’s bad for the economy. But we can do something about it!

The House will soon vote on the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA). Also known as “Fast Track,” the legislation was pushed hard by President Obama to ease the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive trade agreement with 12 countries that account for nearly 40% of the global economy. President Obama has repeatedly stated that the TPP is “the most progressive trade bill in history” due to its “higher labor standards, higher environmental standards,” and “new tools to hold countries accountable.” We have no way to verify his claims, though, because he is keeping the language classified so nobody can see what’s really in it. And the history of previous trade agreements betrays a harsh truth: every president promises that the new trade agreements will have better labor standards, but the actual enforcement of labor provisions lags far behind the promises. A new report just issued by Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office shows that labor standards in trade agreements are almost never enforced (read it here: http://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/BrokenPromises.pdf). In a classic example, it was recently revealed that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates—in direct violation of U.S. trade policy—have completely outlawed labor unions and are among the worst countries in the world in terms of human trafficking. And in Columbia, where we just signed a new trade agreement, union leaders are still being murdered at an alarming rate. These violations are unacceptable. We have no idea if the TPP will have tough, new labor, environmental, and human rights standards, but frankly the odds are against it. Even if these standards are included, they will mean nothing if they aren't enforced.

The TPP will be another case of profits before people. Many American workers will lose work and wages since many of their jobs will now be out-sourced offshore. Additionally large companies will be given a license to pollute or do whatever they please if they feel that ANY U.S. laws are restricting their ability to make a profit.

We ask that the governing bodies of ASCAP, BMI and SESAC reevaluate their fee structure and collection tactics in regard to small venues, cafes and concert series. We assert that their current methods do not reflect the wishes of the majority of their members, nor do they serve their best interests. We ask that they open a dialogue and act in good faith to create a system that is truly fair and affordable, and takes into account the following facts: All three organizations typically collect fees from each venue; the sum each PRO asks for should take this fact into consideration so that the total between all three is actually within the budget of the venue. Small venues typically pay independent songwriters who own the copyrights to their material to perform it; this could be considered a direct payment from the venue to the owner of the copyright. The fees that these PRO's collect do not typically end up in the bank account of the songwriters that play small venues. While this is a bigger issue between the artists and the PROs we feel that this fact illustrates the unfair burden placed upon small venues to essentially subsidize the royalty payments of larger artists who do not play their venues. The fees taken from small venues should never threaten the venue's ability to subsidize the careers of local independent songwriters by paying them directly for the performance of their material. In closing, as a member of ASCAP for over 20 years I believe that the role of the PRO is an important one and this petition is in no way intended to reduce the importance of organizations that protect and advocate for songwriters, artists etc. However, in order for this system to thrive there must be symbiosis between the venues, the artists and the PRO. When the fees charged by PROs are truly prohibitive and cause small venues to reduce or eliminate their music programs it hurts the very members that each Pro seeks to support. We petition you to consider these facts and further offer to arrange a conversation with representatives of both the independent music and small business community if you would be willing to work towards a solution together. We believe that a compromise exists that would allow small venues to feature a sustainable and thriving music program while still complying with Federal law and doing their part to support songwriters and the organizations that advocate for them. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you. ezra

Apparel giant PVH has decided to cut and run from unionized factories in Bangladesh, resulting in potential forced layoffs of nearly 1,300 workers. PVH’s actions will have negative consequences not just for the workers of the Global Trousers factory, but for thousands of workers throughout Bangladesh.

McDonald’s makes $5.5 billion in profit annually, while the cooks and cashiers who do the hard work struggle every day to pay rent or support a family. It’s not right. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo just launched a wage board with the power to raise wages for the 180,000 fast food workers in the state, but it's possible they'll miss this opportunity to raise wages where they need to be – $15 an hour – and settle on a wage that doesn't go far enough. L.A. just passed $15 an hour, and it’s time for $15 in New York and across America. It’s a massive opportunity, but time is short – we need to deliver this petition to the wage board by June 22, before they make their decision. We need to send them a clear message: It’s time to end taxpayer giveaways to megacorporations. It’s time for $15 an hour for fast food workers.

On May 19, Los Angeles voted to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour – giving a raise to 800,000 people. New York is still stuck at $8.75. That’s not right. But right now we have a HUGE opportunity to win $15 in New York for fast food workers. Governor Andrew Cuomo just launched a wage board with the power to raise wages for the hundreds of thousands of fast food workers in the state – but will they agree to $15 an hour? Let’s send them a message loud and clear that it’s time to make New York the first state in the union with a $15 wage for fast food workers. Time is short – we need to deliver this petition to the wage board by June 22, before they make their decision. Sign today.

Our Governor is making vicious attacks on the American middle class, taking our hard-earned dollars and squandering them by giving them to Big Corporations. When does all of the child play and greed stop?

The United States and eleven other nations are working on a massive new trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. According to Public Policy Polling, 63% of Oregonians oppose the TPP, and 73% oppose giving the president “Fast Track” authority to ram trade deals through Congress without amendments. Oregonians are right. In 2012, President Obama pushed through a similar “free trade” agreement with Korea. He promised it would increase exports and create jobs. He was wrong. It hurt exports and killed more than 93,000 US jobs. The failed Korea agreement is the template for the TPP. The TPP would increase the number of foreign corporations able to challenge any US federal, state, or local law: any law that might jeopardize foreign corporate profit, including laws on environmental protection, food and water safety, public health, working conditions, and internet network equality. Forget due process. Judgment is passed by secretive tribunals whose rulings are final. There is no appeal to regular US courts. The number of such claims filed under existing “free trade” agreements is increasing: from a few in 1995 to at least 600 by 2014. But the proceedings are conducted in secrecy. The actual number may be higher. The TPP will fuel inequality, kill jobs, and undermine health, environmental and financial regulations. Oregonians are right: it must be stopped.

I cannot support any agreement that is kept secret. The whole Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement should be made public. We have lost too many jobs overseas. Not everyone has a college degree and we need manufacturing jobs to fulfill that need. Plus, we can't even enforce laws to protect our environment, we definitely won't be able to control countries like China. I think what really amazes me is that while people complain about unemployment insurance, welfare, food stamps, and Medicaid we are ignoring the ways to eliminate the need for them. Birth control, education, and jobs. Our teachers, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado are being asked to take another cut in their salary. My husband was a teacher for 44 years, I was an Instructional Aide for children with special needs. I would not encourage anyone to go into teaching. People don't have any idea what teacher do, what they are responsible for and the hours they put in. We need to take care of our future generations.

It is important because people that do know about it are not taking action against children working in sweatshops. Our school group wants to raise awareness about these unfair working conditions. The children are working 18 hours a day, for little pay, that goes back to their families. They are working in poor conditions, being abused and receive little to no education.