A lot of people have been asking what Kamala has done so I started doing some research into actions taken during her tenure as a US Senator. It appears that she's sponsored or cosponsored 164 bills. I will do my best to read and post her bills.
Senate Bill (SB) 471
"To direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue an occupational safety and health standard to protect workers from heat-related injuries and illnesses.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4781/text?s=1&r=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawESg6tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYm01LS3qDyXnbAS8CCBHrA6yOyOp4GWvi7geDX5PEUvauwkOusNwwtW-w_aem_LiI98uRjdKgSH0R528emcg
S.3963 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) “COVID–19 Whistleblower Protection Act
This bill establishes whistleblower protections for government contractors and private sector workers who may witness waste, fraud, or abuse or be victims of misconduct with respect to a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic-related program, project, or activity. Specifically, employers may not discharge, demote, or otherwise discriminate against such protected individuals who disclose information concerning fraud, misuse, or other misconduct related to COVID-19 program funds. A protected individual may submit to the Department of Labor a complaint alleging a violation of these protections and Labor may adjudicate such complaints and award relief in accordance with the Internal Revenue Service whistleblower procedures.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3963?s=4&r=2&fbclid=IwY2xjawESg9dleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXTG8upuC59TfspkiEa1Hpb-W3FQK-LsB3mgv6TJqrgNDqaNKvmpv-Lt8w_aem_h9QdL6ssNGx_6uqm8GfPHg
S.2112 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
This bill provides rights and protections for domestic workers, including pay and leave rights, and health and safety protections.
The bill, among other things
repeals the exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 for domestic live-in employees from certain minimum wage and maximum hour requirements;
requires written notices of termination and allow other communications for live-in domestic employees;
requires written agreements for domestic workers covering wages, sick leave, benefits, and other matters;
allows domestic workers to request and receive changes to work schedules due to personal events;
sets forth certain privacy rights for domestic workers;
expands coverage to domestic workers under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against discrimination in employment; and
increases the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain Medicaid-funded medical services provided by domestic workers.
The Department of Labor shall (1) award grants for a domestic worker national hotline for reporting emergencies, training on hazards facing domestic workers, and workforce investment activities for domestic workers; and (2) establish a Domestic Worker Wage and Standards Board to investigate standards in the domestic workers industry.
Labor must provide domestic workers with a document that describes the rights and protections under the domestic workers bill of rights.
The Department of Health and Human Services must collect state Medicaid program data on the personal or home care aide workforce.
S.1911 - 21st Century SKILLS Act 21st Century Skills are Key to Individuals' Life-Long Success Act or the 21st Century SKILLS Act
This bill establishes certain workforce innovation and opportunity accounts to provide employed or unemployed individuals and dislocated workers access to upskill training and other educational opportunities in order to meet 21st century workforce demands.
Specifically, the bill (1) expands the use of certain workforce investment funds to provide workers with training and opportunities, and (2) replaces Technical Learning Accounts with Upskill Accounts to prepare employed or unemployed individuals for workforce demands.
The Department of Labor must award grants to states to provide for subgrants to certain sector partnerships or labor-management partnerships. Priority must be given to sector partnerships or labor-management partnerships that (1) demonstrate they will prepare the local workforce for employment in growing in-demand industry sectors or occupations, and (2) target low-income individuals.
In addition, Labor must also maintain a CareerOneStop website that contains, among other things (1) an Upskill Account Portal for eligible individuals to request such accounts, and (2) lists of approved training providers.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1911?s=4&r=4
S.575 - EMPOWER Act—Part 1 Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting Act-Part I or the EMPOWER Act-Part I
“This bill prohibits the use of nondisparagement and nondisclosure clauses that cover workplace harassment in employment contracts and directs the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to take certain actions related to workplace harassment.
Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of nondisparagement and nondisclosure clauses in employment contracts if such clauses cover workplace harassment, including sexual harassment or retaliation for reporting harassment. It also prohibits the enforcement or attempted enforcement of such clauses.
Notwithstanding signing any nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause, an employee or applicant retains any right that person would otherwise have had to report a concern about workplace harassment to the EEOC and other specified agencies and any right that person would otherwise have had to bring an action in a court of the United States.
Additionally, the bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action in a federal court for a violation related to workplace harassment.
The bill also directs the EEOC to (1) establish a confidential tip line that supplements its existing process for submitting a charge of discrimination; and (2) disseminate workplace training programs and information regarding workplace harassment, including sexual harassment.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/575?s=4&r=5
S.385 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) “Fairness for Farm Workers Act
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 with respect to agricultural workers.
The bill requires employers, beginning in 2021, to compensate agricultural workers for hours worked in excess of their regular hours (i.e., 55 hours in 2021, 50 hours in 2022, 45 hours in 2023, and 40 hours in 2024) at not less than one and one-half times the employee's regular rate. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, the overtime pay requirements begin in 2024. These overtime pay requirements do not apply, as in current law, to employees who are the parent, spouse, child, or other member of the employer's immediate family.
The bill also repeals the exemption from overtime pay requirements for employers in various agriculture-related industries, including certain small farms, irrigation projects, sugar processing, and cotton ginning and compressing.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/385?s=4&r=6
S.3131 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Fairness for Farm Workers Act
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 with respect to agricultural workers.
The bill requires employers, beginning in 2019, to compensate agricultural workers for hours worked in excess of their regular hours (i.e., 55 hours in 2019, 50 hours in 2020, 45 hours in 2021, and 40 hours in 2022) at not less than one and one-half times the employee's regular rate. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, the overtime pay requirements begin in 2022. These overtime pay requirements do not apply, as in current law, to employees who are the parent, spouse, child, or other member of the employer's immediate family.
The bill also repeals the exemption from overtime pay requirements for employers in various agriculture-related industries, including certain small farms, irrigation projects, sugar processing, and cotton ginning and compressing.”
S.2994 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act-Part I or the EMPOWER Act-Part I
This bill makes it an unlawful practice for an employer to: (1) enter into a contract with an employee or applicant, as a condition of employment or employment status, if that contract contains a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment; and (2) enforce, or attempt to enforce, such a clause. This prohibition does not apply to a clause contained in a settlement agreement or separation agreement that resolves legal claims or disputes under specified conditions.
Notwithstanding signing any nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause, an employee or applicant retains any right that person would otherwise have had to report a concern about workplace harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other specified agencies and any right that person would otherwise have had to bring an action in a court of the United States.
The EEOC shall: (1) establish a confidential tip-line that supplements its existing process for submitting a charge of discrimination; and (2) provide for the development and dissemination of workplace training programs and information regarding workplace harassment, including sexual harassment.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2994?s=4&r=8
Adidas steals wages
Dear PayYourWorkers RespectLabourRights campaign endorsers,
We’re getting ready for our next big push in our campaign: adidas’ annual shareholders meeting on 11 May! In this email we give you all information you need to stage an action – big or small.
On 11 May adidas' shareholders get to decide about the direction the company is taking. Will it prioritize profits over workers’ rights again? Probably. So we should tell them that all of us (285 organisations from all over the world!) want adidas to prioritise workers’ rights.
At the shareholder meeting in Germany, activists will formally raise the need for adidas to sign the PayYourWorkers agreement as well as make noise outside. All of us can at the same time show that these activists have the support from people all over the world. During our last Global Week of Action we took action in 38 different cities. Let’s hit 40 this time!
It would be great if you and your friends and allies could take action on 11 May or in the week leading up to it. It could be as simple as holding up posters for a photo opportunity, but of course it would be even better if you'd be able to go to an adidas store and hand over this letter, or take another exciting disruptive action (find ideas here) to ensure adidas can't ignore us.
It has already started! Last week, former Hulu garment worker Pesal (photo above) and students in the US already started this wave of activism. Now it is up to all of us to carry it around the world.
You can find all materials to take action in our action kit.
Please do not forget to take photos or videos from your action, so the rest of us can share on social media. If you send us photos from your action, we will assume that all individuals on the photo have given their consent for these to be shared on social media. As soon as you can, please upload or link your photos here, or e-mail them to po@cleanclothes.org. Don’t forget to mention the location (country & city) and the name of your organisation.
We would like to know that you are taking action! Let us know in an answer to this e-mail or register your event here.
Looking forward to a powerful action moment together!
In solidarity,
Anne, Christie and the whole PayYourWorkers Outreach group
P.S. If you can’t manage to upload or e-mail your photos you can also send them via Signal to +316 31 900 402.
International United Auto Workers President
You can not have a strong middle class without strong unions.