Working to Increase Maryland's Minimum Wage

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Far below the debt ceiling debate, a grassroots effort to raise the wages of hundreds of thousands of area working poor is catching fire across Maryland. Progressive Maryland’s (PM) Raise Maryland campaign – launched in January – is drawing support from a broad coalition of faith, community, labor – including the Metro Washington Council -- and business partners uniting behind a call on Maryland legislators to raise the state’s minimum wage. Increasing the minimum wage has a “positive economic impact,” says Maryland Senator Rob Gargiola (D-Montgomery County). “It's not just Maryland's 300,000 minimum wage workers who will benefit,” says PM. “Everyone gains by putting more money into the hands of those who need it most and will pay it right back into the local economy, boosting spending and creating jobs.” Although Annapolis lawmakers promised during this year’s session to “take a look” at the proposal to raise Maryland’s minimum wage from the federally mandated $7.25 – about $15,000 a year -- to $10 by 2013, the proposal did not go anywhere. With the moribund economy wreaking havoc on working families’ budgets and Maryland voters showing overwhelming support for increasing the state minimum wage, Progressive Maryland is “working now to lay the groundwork to move the bill next year,” Executive Director Rion Dennis tells Union City.  Click here  for details on supporting the campaign, including signing an online petition, contacting your representative, taking the business owner/executive pledge or making a donation to the campaign. On July 30, Progressive Maryland welcomes volunteers to join them in circulating the Raise Maryland petition at the Carnival Grounds: 19 Crain Highway South, between 1st Avenue and Post 40 Road in Glen Burnie, MD; email to sign up.
- Saschane Stephenson