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New Mexico's Low Wage Workers Deserve A Raise
- Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-97, employment in New Mexico is up and unemployment is down.
- In fact, New Mexico has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 40,000 new jobs have been created -- an increase of 5.7%.
- And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 6,700 new retail jobs have been added in New Mexico.
- Additionally, unemployment has dropped in New Mexico by 33% since the federal minimum wage was increased. It is now 5.4%.
- With economic strengths of this proportion, surely New Mexico's low wage workers deserve a raise.
- Under our proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $6.15 by the year 2001, over 75,000 New Mexicans would get 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.
- New Mexico's economy is strong and its low wage workers should share in this success. The time has come for Congress to act now and give thousands of New Mexicans the raise they deserve.
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