Political Quotes

Bernie Sanders: “My friend said that we do not have to do anything. My friend said that it should be voluntary. What happened at IBM is…”

On the recordMay 14, 2003
My friend said that we do not have to do anything. My friend said that it should be voluntary. What happened at IBM is that thousands of workers stood up and fought back. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of other workers did not even know what was happening to them. They could not fight back. If the gentleman thinks that giving people a choice is a bad idea, why do the 35 million members of AARP think it is a good idea and the 13 million members of the AFL-CIO? Choice is right.
Said by
Bernie Sanders
Independent · Vermont

Editor's note · Context

Discussing workers' rights and the importance of choice in labor issues.

Share

More from Bernie Sanders

Oct 2, 2026

Emergency LIHEAP assistance is needed now more than ever. Without this vital funding, states will be forced to turn away families, reduce benefits, or exhaust heating assistance funds well before winter is over.

sanders.senate.gov
Oct 2, 2026

At a time of growing concern about the unchecked power of artificial intelligence, Flock is eviscerating the very notion of privacy by installing tens of thousands of cameras in communities across America without their consent.

sanders.senate.gov
Oct 10, 2026

You made a commitment to Congress to ‘preserve’ Head Start, yet this proposed rule is the latest attempt by the Administration to deteriorate and ultimately eliminate the program by gutting the core standards and services that have…

sanders.senate.gov

Other voices in this conversation