Sanders Hands Over His Social Media Accounts to Walmart Workers Ahead of Attending Annual Meeting to Advocate for Employees

Sen. Bernie Sanders turned over his social media accounts to Walmart workers on Tuesday—one day before the Democratic presidential candidate is set to attend the retail giant’s annual meeting, at the invitation of some employees, to advocate for higher wages and introduce a shareholder’s proposal that aims to ensure hourly workers are represented on the company’s board.

Sanders is a longtime supporter of expanding labor rights and critic of Walmart. During the last congressional session, Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced the Stop WALMART Act, which would bar major American corporations that don’t pay employees $15 an hour plus benefits from buying back their own stock.

“What the workers want is a seat at the table,” the senator said in an introductory video posted to Twitter Tuesday. “My message to the Walton family will be: We are tired of subsidizing you, pay your workers a living wage.”

Walmart workers shared their stories in additional videos posted to the presidential hopeful’s Twitter profile and Facebook page.

Adriana Bautista, who lives in Texas and has worked at Walmart for 14 years, said in Spanish, “I’m a mother for four beautiful girls and they are the ones who suffer when my employer gives me only 15 hours of work per week.”