Push by Floridians to Raise Federal Minimum Wage
Posted July 23, 2012 06:35 am
By
Stephanie Carroll Carson
MIAMI, FL - Hundreds of people will converge Tuesday on Miami's Bayfront Park to voice their support for a new push in Congress to raise the federal minimum wage.
The current rate is $7.67 an hour in Florida - but if
it had kept pace with inflation, the minimum wage would
have topped $10 an hour. Eric Brakken, Florida director
of the labor union 32-BJ SEIU, says it's time for
America's politicians to pay attention, particularly in
an election year.
"You come and ask for our vote in this hard economic
time, you've got to be bringing solutions to rebuild the
middle class. Core to that is raising the minimum wage.
"
Brakken says raising the minimum wage to $10 would put
on average of $100 more in the pockets of hourly-wage
workers every week. The minimum wage has been raised
three times in the past 30 years, while executive pay by
large firms increased by 23 percent last year, according
to Equilar, a company that compiles
executive-compensation data.
Brakken points out that money earned by America's
blue-collar workers is almost immediately reinvested in
the economy.
"When a low-wage worker gets a raise, they don't put
their money into offshore bank accounts. They go out and
pay rent. They go out and buy food. They go out and take
their kids to the doctor. "
Tuesday's rally will take place in the heart of Miami's
financial district, and is one of dozens scheduled
around the nation.
The most recent bill to raise the minimum wage, HR 5901,
was introduced last month. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.,
is a co-sponsor.