(CNN) Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg released his new economic policy Friday morning, aimed at protecting workers and putting big tech companies firmly in the hot seat.

The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, titled his plan "The New Rising Tide: Empowering Workers in a Changing Economy," a reference to the economic saying "a rising tide lifts all boats."

"We got the rising tide -- GDP went up, productivity went up -- but our paychecks didn't show it," Buttigieg writes in the proposal.

The plan calls out companies like Google, Lyft and Uber for outsourcing their employees and labeling them contractors, limiting benefits workers can receive from the companies. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Buttigieg said he is willing to go up against big tech.

"I think they need to recognize the consequences if we continue moving into an economic reality where workers are eviscerated," Buttigieg told CNN. "I have nothing against these companies succeeding when workers are doing well, but they can't have it both ways."

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