Celebrating DC Wage Increase, Advocates Say There's More To Do
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The coalition of workers, business owners,
faith leaders, labor organizations
and community groups that in recent years has won increases in the city’s
minimum
wage and expanded the paid sick days law on Tuesday renewed their call to raise
the tipped minimum wage and improve wage theft enforcement.
In front of
the Flava
Restaurant, whose owner is a supporter, the coalition celebrated the July 1
effective date of new laws that will raise DC’s minimum wage to $11.50 an
hour
by 2016, tie increases after that to the cost of living and close loopholes in
the previous earned sick leave bill so that restaurant workers are included and
all workers can use accrued sick leave after 90 days on the job.
“We are demonstrating what can happen when we
work together!” said Rev. Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational United
Church. “We have lots still left to do and we'll keep on fighting until all
of
DC's workers have access to a wage increase,” tweeted ROC-DC. After the press
conference, workers and advocates canvassed businesses in the Shaw neighborhood
to ensure business owners know requirements of the new laws and workers know
their rights.