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

Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-97, employment in California is up and unemployment is down
In fact, California has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 1,440,300 new jobs have been created -- an increase of 11.2%.
And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 191,200 new retail jobs have been added in California.
Additionally, unemployment has dropped in California by 34% since the federal minimum wage was increased. It is now 4.6%.
With economic strengths of this proportion, surely California'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 $.40 an hour above California's minimum wage.
Under this proposal more than 1,463,000 Californians 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.
California'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 Californians the raise they deserve.