An excerpt from the letter reads as follows:
“[We] cannot be expected to build the largest grassroots organizing program in American history while making poverty wages. Given our campaign’s commitment to fighting for a living wage of at least $15.00 an hour, we believe it is only fair that the campaign would carry through this commitment to its own field team.”
The letter then goes on to state that many Sanders campaign staffers are struggling and “barely managing to survive financially.”
Certain members of the campaign have subsequently declined to continue working for the presidential candidate, due to low wages. Despite the appeals made by the aforementioned workers, Shakir maintains that the Sanders campaign “offers wages and benefits competitive with other campaigns.”
Thus far, Bernie Sanders has yet to publically address the concerns of individuals who are working for him.
Controversies Over Raising the Minimum Wage
Thoughts on raising the minimum wage are inherently split on the basis of partisanship. Generally, Democrats favor a higher minimum wage and claim that it will help the working class. Those on the left-wing also bemoan the fact that certain Americans must work multiple jobs in order to pay bills.
