Norton to Speak at Rally for Low-Wage Federal Contract Fast Food Workers, This Morning
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that Norton will speak at a rally for low-wage federal contract workers today, Thursday, December 4, at 9:00 a.m. outside of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (Independence Ave SW and 6th Street NW). Norton will be joined by workers, other Members of Congress, and representatives from Good Jobs Nation, an organization dedicated to procuring livable wages for federal contract workers.
Today's rally and press conference is occurring on the same day as strikes by fast workers from the McDonald's at the Smithsonian and Pentagon, and hundreds of other federally contracted, low-wage fast food workers, in an effort to raise the minimum wage for contract workers to $15.00 per hour and to obtain a right to unionize. Norton has been a congressional leader in fighting for improved wages for workers employed by federal contractors, speaking at their demonstrations and participating in Change to Win and Good Jobs Nation meetings with workers, and is the sponsor of the ROSIE Act, which incentivizes federal government contractors to support workers' collective bargaining, pay living wages and benefits, stop wage theft, and avoid paying CEOs excessive salaries. Norton has called on the President to put the ROSIE Act into an EO.
Norton, encouraged by the president's EO in October that raised the minimum wage for federal contract workers from $7.25 to $10.10, which will take effect for new contracts or replacements for expiring contracts that are awarded after January 1, 2015, is supportive of raising the minimum wage even higher, to $15.00 per hour, and allowing federal contract workers to unionize.
"These rallies are working – the President, the Department of Labor, and the federal contractors who employ these low-wage workers have been listening," said Norton. "Raising the minimum wage and incentivizing fair labor practices for federal contractors is the next logical step. These workers, who have the least, and the most to lose, have taken the lead. It's time for federal contractors to follow."