10 things you did to raise the wage

Posted April 14, 2014

On this historic day, when Governor Dayton signed a minimum wage increase of $9.50 an hour, indexed to inflation, into law — let’s take a look back at the top 10 things members like you did to make this day possible.

1. Talked to our legislators in their districts, like these meetings with Senator Ann Rest in Robbinsdale and in Grand Rapids with Representatives Metsa, Melin, Radinovich, Persell, & Anzelc and Senators Tomassoni & Saxhaug

 

2. Attended our caucuses and conventions to talk to our neighbors and senators about raising the wage. (Our Grand Rapids Organizer said this Itasca County convention had 95% of delegates wearing raise the wage stickers before she ran out!)

 

3. Spoke up against a proposal to put a constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot to index the wage — making it loud and clear that working families deserved a raise now, not a vote in November.

 

4. Made 6,000 calls to Minnesotans and sent nearly 2,000 emails to legislators.

 

5. Collected more than 6,000 petitions signatures with CREDO Mobilize.

 

6. Knocked on 2,000 doors to talk to working families about what raising the wage would mean to them.

 

7. Members like K’Shauna testified at legislative hearings to make sure that legislators heard from the working Minnesotans who will benefit from this increase.… Continue reading »

Minnesota makes history with largest minimum wage hike

Posted

Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law the largest minimum wage increase in state history Monday, giving raises to more than 325,000 Minnesotans and making good on a signature Democratic pledge during an election year.

The move to a $9.50 base hourly wage catapults the state from one of the lowest minimum wages to one of the highest once it is fully phased in by 2016. The state’s base wage will be tied to inflation starting in 2018, ensuring the buying power of the state’s lowest-paid workers keeps better pace with the cost of living.

“Minnesotans who work full time should be able to earn enough money to lift their families out of poverty, and through hard work and additional training, achieve the middle-class American dream,” the DFL governor said, surrounded by legislators, workers and labor leaders at a ceremonial bill-signing in the State Capitol rotunda. “These are people, good Minnesotans all over the state, who just want to work and get paid something that is fair.”

The sharp wage hike puts Minnesota at the forefront of a major initiative by President Obama, who has failed to persuade Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 and instead is pressing his case state by state.… Continue reading »