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