Effort Underway to Increase Albuquerque Minimum Wage
07/09/12
Submitted by: Stefan Dill-Boyce

From the Public News Service:

WorkingAmerica is sponsoring an initiative to raise the minimum wage in Albuquerque. The AFL-CIO affiliate is working with groups such as Progressive Voter Alliance of Central New Mexico and Albuquerque Interfaith to gather petition signatures.

Matthew Henderson is the executive director of the community group OLÉ (Organizers in the Land of Enchantment). He says in addition to an effort to bring the lowest hourly wage in Albuquerque up to $8.50, OLÉ wants to take the plan a step farther: index it.

"It should include a provision so that the wage goes up every year on January 1, to keep pace with the cost of living."

Opponents of increasing the minimum wage claim it will drive jobs out of the state and hurt small businesses. OLÉ says that's not the case. The organization points to a recent study of the effects of Santa Fe's increased minimum wage, currently $10.29 an hour. The study shows the city to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state. ...

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