Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois on Tuesday announced plans to introduce a part-time worker bill of rights that they say will protect hourly retail and food service workers from “corporate greed.”

The legislation strives to let part-timers compete for more hours and better pay, and to provide improved health care and retirement options to employees who face significant obstacles balancing their work schedules with family needs.

The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act would require large employers to prioritize giving hours to current part-timers as opposed to hiring new employees or subcontractors, according to a statement from Warren and Schakowsky. Companies with more than 500 workers would need to compensate existing employees if they dish out hours to new employees instead of qualified part-timers.

Any employee who has worked for their company for at least a year should have access to federal leave protections available under the Family and Medical Leave Act, according to the bill.

The legislation would also let part-time workers, so long as they’ve worked at least 500 hours for two consecutive years, gain access to retirement plans typically offered to full-timers.

In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, the senator and Democratic presidential contender said two-thirds of part-time retail and food workers want full-time work, “but corporations often keep workers part-time to save on wages and benefits.”

2/3 of part-time retail & food workers want full-time work – but corporations often keep workers part-time to save on wages & benefits. @RepSchakowsky & I are introducing the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act to boost protections for part-time workers. https://t.co/xRjBYrm98Q — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 3, 2019

“For far too long, companies trying to boost their profits have taken advantage of part-time workers by assigning them unpredictable work schedules - creating real hardships for them,” Warren said in a statement. “My legislation with Congresswoman Schakowsky puts an end to this practice by giving part-time workers the rights, stability, and other protections they deserve to build better financial futures for themselves and for their families.”

Schakowsky said in a statement that many hardworking Americans take several part-time jobs just “to make ends meet," getting themselves stuck "into a part-time rut due to corporate greed.”

“Companies are using their part-time status to rig the system and maximize profits while exacerbating income inequality,” she said. “These hard-working Americans are working more hours between all their jobs than many full-time workers, but making less per hour and receiving fewer benefits. The Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights seeks to eliminate many of the incentives provided to employers that allow them to exploit workers who want to work full-time.”

The lawmakers, both Democrats, noted that Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and other cities have passed legislation helping workers gain more hours. The argued corporations “often use underemployment,” giving fewer hours spread among many part-time employees, as a strategy to avoid paying benefits to full-timers.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, another Democrat running for president, and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, in a three-way primary battle to keep his seat, joined Warren and Schakowsky in unveiling the legislation Tuesday.

Marc Perrone, president of United Food and Commercial Workers International, applauded the proposed law, saying too many low-paid part-time workers cannot access family leave, or contribute to a pension, while often losing hours to subcontractors.

“This is wrong and it must end now,” Perrone said in a statement, arguing the bill “will hold corporations accountable and help end the modern-day exploitation of millions of hard-working men and women in America’s retail industry.”

Warren and Schakowsky cited a study by the University of California at Berkeley which found that unpredictable schedules and limited access to hours are directly tied to financial instability, housing insecurity, high stress, poor health and parents spending less time with their children.

Warren and Rep. Rosa DeLaura of Connecticut in October reintroduced the Schedules That Work Act, which pushes to ensure that low-wage employees have clearer schedules and incomes, and protects employees from retaliation over requested schedule changes.