Community organizer and advocate Michelle “Michi” Sanchez has announced her candidacy for the position of Georgia Labor Commissioner. Her campaign aims to redefine the role of the office, transforming it from a primarily administrative body into a proactive advocate for the state’s workforce.
Entering the Democratic primary, Sanchez emphasizes her commitment to tackling issues such as wage theft, worker exploitation, and a lack of accountability within the current office. “Georgia’s Labor Commissioner should be more than a paperwork shuffler; they should be a champion for the people whose labor builds this state every day,” Sanchez stated. She criticized the long-standing neglect of working families by Georgia politicians, pointing out that while inflation has surged over 80%, the state’s minimum wage remains stagnant at $5.15 per hour.
“Workers only receive $7.25 due to federal law,” she continued. “Meanwhile, $450 million is stolen from Georgia workers every year through wage theft. That is not just policy failure; that is injustice.” Sanchez’s extensive organizing experience across metro Atlanta and rural north Georgia has equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by workers. Her work has included collaborations with organizations such as the New Georgia Project and Poder Latinx, focusing on coalition-building and increasing voter engagement.
Personal Motivation Drives Campaign
Sanchez’s motivation for this campaign is deeply personal. Tragically, two months before her daughter, Hayley, turned 20, she passed away after an employer failed to honor a job offer, which deprived her of income, healthcare access, and hope. “Losing Hayley showed me how our system protects employers, not workers,” Sanchez remarked. This personal loss, combined with her own experiences of workplace exploitation, including being misclassified as an independent contractor, has fueled her desire to advocate for change.
“I’ve lived these fights,” Sanchez said. “I survived wage theft and harassment with zero protections. These experiences showed me exactly how the system fails workers, and why this office matters. I will carry those experiences into this fight for every Georgia worker who has lost wages, healthcare, or dignity.”
Comprehensive Campaign Platform
Sanchez’s platform includes several key initiatives aimed at strengthening worker protection in Georgia. She plans to:
- Combat wage theft: Utilize investigative authority to expose violators, coordinate with worker organizations and legal aid, and publicly report exploiters.
- Address worker misclassification: Hold employers accountable for falsely classifying employees as independent contractors to evade benefits and protections.
- Improve unemployment insurance processing: Ensure timely and dignified access to benefits for workers.
- Enhance language access: Provide information and enforcement in multiple languages to protect immigrant workers, who represent 27% of Georgia’s construction workforce.
- Build coalitions: Partner with worker centers, legal aid groups, faith communities, and small business owners who advocate for fair competition.
- Advocate for systemic change: Pressure the legislature to raise Georgia’s minimum wage and establish comprehensive statewide harassment protections.
“Georgia cannot wait for Washington,” Sanchez added, highlighting the pressing need for local protections. “Workers need a Commissioner who sees them, hears them, and is willing to fight.”
Drawing inspiration from the late Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for the rights of sanitation workers, Sanchez asserted, “Economic justice is justice. Labor rights are civil rights. That fight did not end in Memphis, and it’s not finished in Georgia.”
As the campaign progresses, Sanchez aims to ensure that Georgia workers are fairly compensated, treated with dignity, and safeguarded by effective laws. “For too long, this office has been silent while working families struggle,” she concluded. “I’m ready to make it work for the people.”
The Democratic primary is scheduled for May 19, 2024, with the voter registration deadline set for April 20, 2024.
