Bernie Sanders champions workers' rights with proposal of $15 minimum wage bill

Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has the backing of a number of Democrats in his push to set the US national minimum wage at $15 (£11).

The former presidential hopeful is set to reintroduce the minimum wage bill on Wednesday (26 April), although it is unlikely to attract the support of Republicans in the Senate.

Democrats, however, have showed their support for the proposal, with plans for an accompanying bill in the House to be introduced by representatives Bobby Scott and Keith Ellison.

In addition, Sanders will appear at a rally outside the Capitol building, standing with others in protest at what is described as a 'war on workers' started by US President Donald Trump's labour policies.

However, Trump has frequently described himself as a champion of workers – although he has spoken less about workers' rights – winning popular support from manufacturing towns that were suffering from an economic slowdown.

But the minimum wage is an issue on which Sanders may find support from the electorate but not necessarily within Congress.

An estimate from the Bureau of Labor statistics found that 2.1 million people in the US were paid either the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or less, according to US News – suggesting a bump would be welcomed by workers.

However, a Republican-controlled Congress is unlikely to back a push for a $15 minimum wage and more likely to cite concerns about small businesses losing out, among others. However, Sanders' bill may prompt Republicans to rethink their position on workers' rights.