Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Sunday called a convention in Detroit to express her support for raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
“All of you should not have to march in the streets to get a living wage but thank you for marching in the streets to get that living wage,” Clinton said, according to The Washington Post.
{mosads}“We need you out there leading the fight against those who would rip away Americans’ right to organize, to collective bargaining, to fair pay,” she told listeners assembled at the Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) second annual “Fight for $15” convention, the newspaper added.
Clinton said on Sunday that she supported the SEIU’s efforts to increase its members’ wealth.
“No man or woman who works hard to feed America’s families should have to be on food stamps to feed your own families,” she said during her conference call into the event, according to the Post.
“It is wrong that so many people stand against you thinking that they can steal your wages with no consequences,” she added. “That even stacks the deck higher for those at the top.”
Clinton promised she would make representing such low-wage workers a cornerstone of her potential White House.
“I want to be your champion,” she said. “I want to fight with you every day.”
“I’m well aware that the folks on top already have plenty of friends in Washington, but we together will change the direction of this great country.”