Labor

Congress must pass family-friendly workplace protections that build an economy centered on people, not profits. NETWORK is committed to promoting families’ economic stability by creating an environment where all workers can afford to balance work and family responsibilities.

Our Position

Congress must raise the minimum wage and protect workers’ freedom to join unions. The federal minimum wage has been $7.25/hour since 2009. 44 million workers, a third of the U.S. workforce, makes less than $17/hour, including 41% of working Black women and nearly 50% of working Latina women. Together, we will pass the Raise the Wage Act so more workers can earn a dignified wage and provide for their families.

Issues

NETWORK Advocates for Federal Policies That:

Raise the minimum wage

The federal minimum wage has been $7.25/hour since 2009, is applicable in 20 states. The Raise the Wage Act will increase the minimum wage nationally to $17 by 2028 so that an estimated 28 million workers can earn a dignified wage and provide for their families.

Guarantee paid leave and childcare support

Wealthy corporations and their supporters in Congress have blocked efforts to provide paid leave and childcare support, and COVID-era grants for that provided financial support for childcare have expired.

Without nationally guaranteed paid leave, 87% of workers can’t take off time to care for a sick child. More than 60% of workers have no paid medical leave, having to choose between pay and time to heal. Together, we will ensure time to care for ourselves and our loved ones when we get sick, with paid family and medical leave for all workers.

Advance and protect workers’ right

How You Can Help

Nothing at this time. Make sure you are signed up for our emails to received the latest policy updates.

Our Wins

The Biden-Harris administration has required a minimum wage of $15/hour for federal contractors’ workers and increased the number of workers eligible for overtime protections.
The Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and CHIPS Act created 14 million new, good-paying union jobs, including 800,000 jobs in manufacturing and 210,000 in clean energy.
The American Rescue Plan Act provided temporary paid leave and increased and expanded childcare tax credits, increasing hard-working parents’ time and ability to care for their children.