USCCB - (SDWP) - Alaska's Low Wage Workers Deserve A Raise

Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-97, employment in Alaska is up and unemployment is down.
In fact, Alaska has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 14,800 new jobs have been created -- an increase of 5.6%.
And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 3,000 new retail jobs have been added in Alaska -- making the growth in retail faster than the rate for all other industries.
Additionally, unemployment has dropped in Alaska by 27% since the federal minimum wage was increased. It is now 5.8%.
With economic strengths of this proportion, surely Alaska's lowest paid workers deserve a raise.
Our proposal would increase the federal minimum wage to $6.15 by the year 2001 -- a $1 an hour increase over the current federal level and $.50 an hour above Alaska's minimum wage.
Under this proposal more than 9,000 Alaskans would receive a raise.
Our proposal is a modest one and would make the value of the minimum wage just 7¢ more than what it was in 1982.
Alaska's economy is strong and its low wage workers should share in its success. The time has come for Congress to act now and give thousands of Alaskans the raise they deserve.