PARMA, Ohio — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., visited a local union office in northeast Ohio Thursday to rally for the “one fair wage” ballot initiative, which aims to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“I grew up in a family living paycheck to paycheck,” Sanders said. “You know what that is? That means you have to make a decision as to what you can buy or what you can afford to buy. That means you live under tremendous stress.”

Currently, the minimum wage for non-tipped workers in Ohio is $10.45 an hour and $5.25 for tipped workers.

The proposed initiative would increase wages for about 1.2 million workers in the state. 

Sanders said the average worker from the group would see an increase of $2,100 in their annual wages if the proposal passes.

UAW Local 1005 President Dan Schwartz said they were happy to host the rally at their office in Parma as supporters of the initiative.

“The UAW has worked real hard to bargain agreements that raise the minimum, the wages of hardworking Americans all over the country to come up to what is affordable and a good living wage,” Schwartz said.

Many of those who spoke at the rally have worked jobs earning minimum wage.

They say it’s not enough to keep up with rising costs for housing, food and more.

Right now, the proposal is still in the signature-gathering phase.

Organizers are working to collect 700,000 signatures by July 3, so the initiative can appear on the ballot in November.

Representatives from one fair wage said they have more than 550,000 signatures as of Thursday night.

However, some do oppose to ballot initiative. 

"The waitresses, waiters and bartenders of our state can’t afford Sanders' socialist plan to eliminate their tips," said campaign organizer Gene Pierce of the opposing side in a statement. "Northeast Ohioans already know how destructive this proposal can be, Cleveland rejected a similar proposal from the same organization in 2016."