MontCo & PG Community Groups Launch Campaign to Help Workers Stand Up for Legal Wages
Monday, June 16, 2014(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