By Laura Clawson
Contract workers in federal buildings once again walked out and rallied with supporters on Wednesday as they continue pressing the federal government to raise employment standards. Workers in Senate office buildings joined the strike this time, with one, Bertrand Olotara, writing:
Every day, I serve food to some of the most powerful people on earth – including many of the senators who are running for president: I’m a cook for the federal contractor that runs the US Senate cafeteria. But today, they’ll have to get their meals from someone else’s hands, because I’m on strike.
I am walking off my job because I want the presidential hopefuls to know that I live in poverty. Many senators canvas the country giving speeches about creating “opportunity” for workers and helping our kids achieve the “American dream” – most don’t seem to notice or care that workers in their own building are struggling to survive.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined the protest. Workers are calling for President Obama to build on his executive orders calling for federal contractors to pay a $10.10 minimum wage and obey labor laws. They want to see a new executive order giving preference to “model employers”—contractors that pay $15 an hour with benefits and allow collective bargaining.