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

Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-97, employment in Washington is up and unemployment is down.
In fact, Washington has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 243,100 new jobs have been created -- an increase of 10.0%.
And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 43,900 new retail jobs have been added in Washington.
Additionally, unemployment has dropped in Washington by 24% since the federal minimum wage was increased. It is now 4.7%.
With economic strengths of this proportion, surely Washington'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.
Under this proposal more than 180,000 Washingtonians 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.
Washington's economy is strong and its low wage workers should share in its success. The time has come for Congress to act and give thousands of Washingtonians the raise they deserve.