WASHINGTON, DC - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate rejected the RAISE Act" amendment:

"Let's be clear, the 'RAISE Act' amendment aimed to do one thing only - strip unionized workers of their fundamental right to bargain collectively over wages. Collective bargaining agreements are intended to prevent employers from making arbitrary decisions about wages. This amendment would have undone that. Undermining the contractually ensured voice of unionized workers does nothing to help our economic recovery or create jobs.

"Thankfully, the Senate rejected this amendment."

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