To: President Donald Trump
MR. PRESIDENT: STOP DOING BUSINESS WITH COMPANIES THAT KEEP MILLIONS IN POVERTY
Millions of people work for the federal government through private contractors, and the fact is that many are struggling to make ends meet on minimum wage or even less, while these companies are paying their CEOs millions each year.
The White House should use every tool at its disposal, including executive orders, to ensure that federal contractors pay a living wage and respect workers’ rights to join together and have a voice on the job.
The White House should use every tool at its disposal, including executive orders, to ensure that federal contractors pay a living wage and respect workers’ rights to join together and have a voice on the job.
Why is this important?
This morning, I walked off my job, because what I make -- less than $10 an hour -- just isn't enough to pay my rent and support my family.
I work for a U.S. government contractor at the National Air and Space Museum. There are many people like me -- they work at places we all love like Union Station. The National Gallery of Art. And while CEOs of government contractors are making millions, we’re paid so little that we can’t possibly make ends meet without public assistance.
The federal government is by far the largest employer of poverty-wage jobs in the country, with its contract workers struggling to survive on minimum wage, or even less. CEOs make millions, while we, their employees, can’t make ends meet.
I've seen what has happened in places like New York and Chicago when workers stand up together and demand a living wage. It needs to happen here in Washington D.C. too, where we are dealing with the same issues despite being in President Obama's backyard. We work for many of the same employers, and get the same poverty wages as these workers. But unlike them, our bosses operate under contract in federally owned buildings.
The White House should take whatever means necessary, including executive orders, to lift millions out of poverty by ensuring that all federal agencies pay a living wage. We want to send a message that it’s time to stand up for working people and our communities.
I work for a U.S. government contractor at the National Air and Space Museum. There are many people like me -- they work at places we all love like Union Station. The National Gallery of Art. And while CEOs of government contractors are making millions, we’re paid so little that we can’t possibly make ends meet without public assistance.
The federal government is by far the largest employer of poverty-wage jobs in the country, with its contract workers struggling to survive on minimum wage, or even less. CEOs make millions, while we, their employees, can’t make ends meet.
I've seen what has happened in places like New York and Chicago when workers stand up together and demand a living wage. It needs to happen here in Washington D.C. too, where we are dealing with the same issues despite being in President Obama's backyard. We work for many of the same employers, and get the same poverty wages as these workers. But unlike them, our bosses operate under contract in federally owned buildings.
The White House should take whatever means necessary, including executive orders, to lift millions out of poverty by ensuring that all federal agencies pay a living wage. We want to send a message that it’s time to stand up for working people and our communities.