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Virginia's Low Wage Workers Deserve A Raise
- Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-1997, employment in Virginia is up and unemployment is down.
- In fact, Virginia has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 293,700 new jobs have been created -- an increase of 9.3%.
- And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 29,100 new retail jobs have been added in Virginia.
- Additionally, unemployment has dropped in Virginia by 37% since the federal minimum wage was increased. It is now 2.7% -- lower than the federal rate.
- With economic strengths of this proportion, surely Virginia's low wage workers deserve a raise.
- Under our proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $6.15 by the year 2001, over 218,000 Virginians 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.
- Virginia'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 Virginians the raise they deserve.
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