Bernie Camp Gets Econ Lesson: Higher Wages = Fewer Hours

John Romero | July 22, 2019
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Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) just taught his entire campaign staff an important lesson in economics. If one wants higher wages, then expect fewer hours.

In a previous article from MRCTV, the union that represents the workers for Bernie Sander’s campaign had entered negotiations to try and garner higher wages. The union had stated that,

[Field organizers] 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 union accomplished this goal. Before recent negotiations, field organizers were making the equivalent of $13 per hour in addition to a platinum healthcare plan, paid vacation, and sick leave according to Newsweek.

Their victory quickly became a bittersweet lesson in economics. With the new minimum wage for the workers came cuts in their hours. Workers originally said they were working around 60 hours but now will be limited to 41-43 hours.

The time cuts came along with a side order of mockery for the whole Fight For 15 movement, a centerpiece of Sanders' campaign.

Even the Congressional Budget Office has come out with an estimate on the possible effects of rising the minimum wage to $15. The loss of possibly 3.7 million jobs could happen if a $15 minimum wage were to be implemented by 2024. 

 

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