Warren joins Sanders in support of striking McDonald’s workers
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Tuesday voiced her support for McDonald’s workers who are on strike to protest the fast food chain’s response to sexual harassment in the workplace.
“I stand with @McDonalds workers who are striking today to protest sexual harassment on the job, and retaliation for reporting it,” Warren tweeted.
“Low-wage workers are especially vulnerable to workplace discrimination and sexual harassment,” she added. “It’s wrong, and it has to stop.”
Low-wage workers are especially vulnerable to workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. It’s wrong, and it has to stop. I stand with @McDonalds workers who are striking today to protest sexual harassment on the job, and retaliation for reporting it. https://t.co/DktwRz7cSN
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 18, 2018
Warren’s comments echoed those of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) from last week.
{mosads}”Every single worker in this country has a right to a safe workplace where they will not be harassed, assaulted or punished for speaking up,” the Vermont senator wrote on Twitter. “We all must stand with McDonald’s worker who are bravely fighting back.”
Every single worker in this country has a right to a safe workplace where they will not be harassed, assaulted or punished for speaking up. We all must stand with the McDonald’s workers who are bravely fighting back. https://t.co/iH1FIUjKUo
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 14, 2018
The strike, which is slated to affect McDonald’s locations in 10 cities across the country, is backed by Fight for 15, a group working to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Fight for 15 and its principal backer, Service Employees International Union, have wrestled with their own allegations of sexual misconduct.
Multiple officials at the two organizations were accused of sexual misconduct last year, the Washington Free Beacon reports. Five were ultimately ousted.
SEIU spokeswoman Sarah Lonardo told the Free Beacon in an email that the union is “committed to ensuring that our own work environment reflects the same values that we fight for on behalf of all workers across the service sector.”
“We are uniquely equipped to both continuously improve our workplace and forge ahead in fulfilling our mission to empower workers,” she told the Free Beacon. “This includes supporting and standing with the brave women demanding a union and speaking out against the abuse, bullying, harassment, and discrimination at McDonald’s.”
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