MontCo & PG Community Groups Launch Campaign to Help Workers Stand Up for Legal Wages

Monday, June 16, 2014

MontCo & PG Community Groups Launch Campaign to Help Workers Stand Up for Legal Wages(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

The minimum wage in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties goes up to $8.40 an hour on October 1 but some local labor and community leaders worry that local workers may not see the increase they’re entitled to. UFCW Local 400 and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) have joined with elected officials and community supporters in Maryland to kick off a week-long education campaign June 16-20 aimed at making sure area workers know about the new minimum wage laws. "These new laws will provide a vital boost to hundreds of thousands of workers struggling with how to make ends meet," said Local 400 President Mark Federici. "The Prince George's and Montgomery county governments did their part to pass the laws, but it's our job, starting today, to raise awareness to hold employers accountable and prevent wage theft in the future." "I've worked my entire life, so I know how hard it is to try and make ends meet, especially off minimum wage," said Jacqueline Midence (photo), a fast food worker. "When you're supporting your family, every cent helps you survive. The new law will help people like me live better, it will give us more hope for the future." "Jobs should lift workers out of poverty, not trap them in poverty," said Executive Director of LCLAA Hector E. Sanchez.
- photo by Bill Burke/Page One

 

Powered by Orchid Suites
Orchid ver. 4.7.6.