CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)—August 29, 2014.
“This Labor Day, we will take time to recognize the enormous contributions that working men and women make to our nation. Our economic strength comes from their hard work, productivity and skills.
Yet American workers deserve more than recognition – they deserve a raise. Between 1979 and 2013, productivity grew by 64.9 percent but hourly wages rose just 8 percent. Wages have not kept pace with productivity and they have certainly not kept pace with increases in food, gasoline and other basic goods.
A full-time minimum wage worker earns $15,080 a year – nearly $5,000 below the poverty level for a family of three. The tipped wage of $2.13 hasn’t been increased since 1991. And women, on average, still earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. It is even less for women of color – for African American women it’s 64 cents and for Latinas it’s 55 cents. This is unacceptable. That is why I’m so proud that raising the minimum wage and ending paycheck discrimination against women are key priorities of the House Democratic Caucus Middle Class Jumpstart agenda.
On Monday, I join in celebrating workers in our community and the labor movement which built America’s middle class and in pledging to continue the fight for good wages and union rights.”
Source: Schakowsky.house.gov
