Community organizer and advocate Michelle “Michi” Sanchez has officially launched her campaign for the Georgia Labor Commissioner position. Sanchez aims to transform the office from a largely administrative role into a robust advocate for the state’s working families.
Entering the Democratic primary, Sanchez has outlined a platform that addresses critical issues such as wage theft, worker exploitation, and the need for accountability in a system she believes has overlooked the needs of working individuals for too long. “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 highlighted the pressing economic challenges facing Georgia workers, noting that while inflation has surged by over 80%, the state’s minimum wage remains stagnant at $5.15 an hour. “Workers only receive $7.25 because federal law overrides it. Meanwhile, $450 million is stolen from Georgia workers every year through wage theft. That is not just policy failure, that is injustice,” Sanchez emphasized.
Sanchez’s Background and Personal Motivation
Sanchez brings over a decade of grassroots organizing experience from various communities across metro Atlanta and rural north Georgia. Her work has included initiatives with organizations such as the New Georgia Project, Poder Latinx, and the Democratic Party of Georgia. Notably, she led innovative civic engagement efforts, including the distinctive “Tamales to the Polls” initiative.
This campaign carries personal significance for Sanchez, who experienced profound loss when her daughter, Hayley, passed away just before her 20th birthday. Hayley’s struggle with employment issues highlighted the systemic failures that can place workers in precarious situations. “Losing Hayley showed me how our system protects employers, not workers,” Sanchez reflected. “That has to change.”
Moreover, Sanchez has faced workplace exploitation firsthand. She was misclassified as an independent contractor, which resulted in wage theft and a lack of legal protections against harassment. “I’ve lived these fights,” she 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.”
Campaign Platform and Vision for Change
Sanchez’s campaign platform includes several key initiatives aimed at supporting Georgia’s workforce. She intends to:
- Fight wage theft: Utilize investigation authority to expose violators and collaborate with worker organizations and legal aid to bring exploiters to light.
- Prioritize worker misclassification investigations: Hold employers accountable for misclassifying workers to avoid providing benefits.
- Improve unemployment insurance processing: Ensure timely and dignified access to benefits for Georgia workers.
- Expand language access: Provide information and enforcement in multiple languages for the 27% of Georgia’s construction workforce who are immigrants.
- Build coalitions: Partner with worker centers, legal aid groups, and small businesses advocating for fair competition.
- Advocate for systemic change: Push for raising Georgia’s minimum wage and enhancing protections against workplace harassment.
“Georgia cannot wait for Washington,” Sanchez said. “Under the current federal administration, workers cannot depend on federal protection. Georgia needs to protect its own workers. Workers need a Commissioner who sees them, hears them, and is willing to fight.”
Sanchez draws inspiration from historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., who championed labor rights alongside civil rights. “Economic justice is justice,” she stated. “Labor rights are civil rights. That fight did not end in Memphis, and it’s not finished in Georgia.”
Her campaign aims to ensure that Georgia workers receive fair pay, are treated with dignity, and are protected by enforceable laws. “For too long, this office has been silent while working families struggle,” Sanchez concluded. “I’m ready to make it work for the people.”
The Democratic primary is scheduled for May 19, with the voter registration deadline set for April 20.
