“The goals of the task force were to move the Biden campaign into as progressive a direction as possible, and I think we did that.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders
On Wednesday, Democrats unveiled a 110-page policy “blueprint” aimed at unifying the Bernie Sanders’ wing of the Democratic Party around Joe Biden’s candidacy.
It was, according to NPR, a “joint effort by former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders” and “the work of six joint task forces appointed by Biden and Sanders in May.”
“The goals of the task force were to move the Biden campaign into as progressive a direction as possible, and I think we did that,” Sen. Sanders [I-VT] told NPR.
“On issue after issue, whether it was education, the economy, health care, climate, immigration, criminal justice, I think there was significant movement on the part of the Biden campaign,” Sanders stated.
To be sure, the 110-page document emphasizes such liberal causes as the so-called Green New Deal, amnesty for illegal immigrants, tax increases for the wealthy, as well as expansion of the federal government into health care.
However, on labor policy, the Sanders-Biden plan (see in full below) is straight out of Bernie Sanders’ own policy playbook.
Almost a carbon copy of Sanders’ so-called ‘Workplace Democracy Plan,’ the Sanders-Biden blueprint is a union boss’ dream.
On pages 65-66 of the blueprint, the Sanders-Biden team calls for the blacklisting of federal contractors, federalizing labor relations for government workers in all 50 states, eliminating so-called “right-to-work” laws in all 50 states, giving unions the ability to unionize workers without a secret-ballot election and more.
“Union organizing and bargaining: Repeal “right to work,” ensure recognition of unions with majority sign-up, and restore right to secondary boycott. In addition, ban captive audience meetings, and penalize companies that bargain in bad faith.
● Provide a federal guarantee for public sector employees to bargain for better pay and benefits and the working conditions they deserve, and ensure that all private-sector workers’ right to strike without fear of coercion, interference, and undue delay is vigorously protected. Further, establish the federal government’s role as promoting and facilitating collective bargaining and helping the parties bring their negotiations to a rapid and successful conclusion. Appoint members to the National Labor Relations Board and National Mediation Board who will protect, rather than sabotage, worker organizing, collective bargaining, and legal rights to concerted action including strikes. Ensure a high standard for federal intervention in strikes, including strikes under the RLA.
● Ensure federal dollars do not flow to employers who engage in union-busting activities, participate in wage theft, or violate labor law.
Worker classification and employer accountability: Pass the PRO Act and enforce wage theft and misclassification laws, expand definition of employer to include accountability in franchises.
● Ensure workers can bargain with the employer that actually holds the power, including franchisors, and ensure those employers are accountable for guaranteeing workplace protections. Enact legislation codifying the Browning-Ferris Industries joint employer definition into law, as called for in the PRO Act, and restoring the broad definition of joint employment to wage and hour law.
● Embrace labor market competition by eliminating barriers to mobility and addressing harmful labor market practices that distort the balance of power and create monopsonylike conditions. This includes outlawing unnecessary non-compete clauses, no-poaching agreements, inadequate wage transparency, mandatory arbitration, burdensome occupational licensing restrictions, and excessive concentration of employers in local labor markets.
● Aggressively pursue employers who violate labor laws, participate in wage theft, or cheat on their taxes by intentionally misclassifying employees as independent contractors, applying the “ABC” test. [pages 65-66, emphasis added]”
Below is the 110-page Sanders-Biden blueprint in full:
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