Ramos on the right side

To the editor:

State Senator Jessica Ramos appears to be a very promising candidate for labor (The Chief, "State Senate labor chair applies for mayor's job," Sept. 27). Union leaders don't always support the candidate who's best for their workers' interests. See the support many had for Mayor Adams' push to privatize Medicare for city employees and his predecessor's contracts that gave those workers real-money pay cuts.

But Ramos is on the right side on issues for working people. Supporting increases in the minimum wage, safety protections for construction and warehouse workers, improved unemployment benefits and harsher penalties for wage theft should be no-brainers for a political party that claims to be pro-worker. 

The only advice I would give her is not to repeat the anti-police rhetoric of some so-called progressives. But don't advocate the continuation of Adams'  blind support for cops guilty of wrongdoing either. The police force should be increased and good cops should be supported while bad ones are fired.

As for "The benefits of a four-day work week," (The Chief, same issue), besides burnout, people need more time to enjoy the life they actually work for.

Another no-brainer should be passing legislation that makes treating workers right mandated by law. The owners of 529 Fifth Ave. ("Cleaners at lux 5th Ave. digs rail against pay and benefit cuts," same issue) would not be able to slash their employees' salaries from $29 an hour to $16 if the minimum wage was $30 an hour.

If all citizens had the same complete government provided health coverage that other developed nations have, employers would not be able to take away workers' health insurance. Also, a minimum amount of sick days for all workers should also be mandated by law.

Richard Warren