There's a unique way for California voters to celebrate Labor Day and the contributions of working people this year: support Proposition 210, the Living Wage Initiative, on the November ballot. Prop. 210 restores the value of the California minimum wage, which hasn't been raised since 1988, by raising it in two steps to $5.75 an hour by 1998. Prop. 210 doesn't fully restore the value the minimum wage had in the 1970's, but it is a major step towards construction of an adequate wage floor in this state.
Because of inflation, California's minimum wage sank to a forty year low during 1996. The federal raise to $5.15 helps, but it still leaves a minimum wage worker $2300 a year below the poverty line for a family of three. Prop. 210 lifts this family much closer to the poverty line. California low-wage workers deserve Prop. 210's living wage.
Who are California's low-wage workers? They are the people who perform some of the dirtiest, hardest and most dangerous work. Almost all of the 2.1 million low-wage workers are adults, and more than a million are women. Hundreds of thousands are the main or sole support for their families. Most work for profit-making businesses in retail, agriculture, hotel and restaurant, garment manufacturing and clerical jobs. Over 175,000 minimum wage workers care for our elderly and disabled citizens. The current minimum wage punishes hard work. A full-time minimum wage worker's income is 32% below the poverty line for a family of three, and minimum wage workers often earn less income than people on welfare. Many minimum wage workers must supplement their low pay with food stamps and welfare. Work should pay better than welfare. A $5.75/hour minimum wage would mean smaller welfare payments to tens of thousands of working poor. With Prop. 210, 120,000 California household members will become less dependent on welfare. Taxpayers would save millions in welfare costs, and millions more in food stamp reductions. Prop. 210 rewards hard work.
Prop. 2l0 will actually boost California's economy. Minimum wage workers spend virtually their entire paychecks on food, clothing and other basic necessities. Prop. 210 gives consumers more money to spend, boosting California businesses. Rising wages mean increased sales and profits. Thousands of California jobs were created after the last increase in 1988. Increasing the minimum wage is sound economic policy.
Since 1988, corporate CEO pay has doubled. Corporate profits have skyrocketed. Inflation is up 26%. But the California's lowest-paid workers haven't gotten a raise in over 8 years. Middle class and working people are falling behind, and the lowest paid are hit the hardest. Prop 210 is a modest raise for people who play by the rules and contribute to our economy. It's long overdue. Let's put a positive value on hard work by passing Prop. 210. Labor Day is the perfect time to make that commitment.
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