Labor Issues Platform

The Virginia Young Democrats acknowledge the role of labor on college campuses, in the community, across the commonwealth and abroad. We strive to include all young Democrats in Virginia and will reach out to local labor union apprenticeship programs to involve their members in our democratic process. The VAYD Labor Caucus is open to Virginia Young Democrats who are concerned about labor issues, are or were members of a union or those with immediate family in a union or are friends of labor. We are committed to increasing awareness of labor issues and through our actions, support and communications making a positive impact for today's working class.

We recognize the historic role of the labor movement as the champion for the working class. We acknowledge that in today's worsening economy, young people are facing an unstable job market, where college graduates face an increasingly difficult time searching for jobs, health care benefits are being slashed, and job security are at an all time low. The Virginia Young Democrats affirm our belief that labor unions fighting to protect workers' rights, are all the more critical in difficult economic times like those we currently face. We oppose the use of public funds, even indirectly, to pay for the services of union busting or union avoidance consultants. We support laws that guarantee the right of employees to join a union of their choice, to engage in collective bargaining, and to strike.

We recognize that everyday American workers are faced with poor working conditions, unfair labor practices, and declining wages. We support the right of workers who unite to bargain with their employers for better wages, working conditions and benefits. We acknowledge the sacrifice, personal risk, and financial hardship workers face when walking the picket line, and commend their willingness to stand up for their fellow workers. We believe in the right of workers to make decent compensation, and fully support efforts to index the minimum wage to inflation, raising the living wage and sparing working families from the burdens of poverty.

We believe that supporting millions of hard-working Americans is an on-going commitment. We support conscious consumer decisions to purchase locally-grown food and domestically made products whenever possible. We recognize that a daily, conscious commitment to conscientious activism and consumerism is critical to the preservation and defense of the labor movement for generations to come.

We affirm that our commitment to fair labor practices extends beyond our own borders, to the global work force. To that end, we oppose the outsourcing of jobs to areas with states and areas with lower labor and environmental standards. We believe that refugee and immigrant workers should have the same rights and protections as United States citizens, and support legislation that cracks down on employers who hire undocumented workers at unfair and sub-standard wages.

Do you agree? If so, join the Labor Caucus and Pledge to Vote for Democrats on November 4!