Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Maryland First State to Pass Living Wage

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU
 
Omaha Steve Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-09-07 07:28 PM
Original message
Maryland First State to Pass Living Wage
Source: AFL-CIO weblog

Maryland First State to Pass Living Wage

by James Parks, Apr 9, 2007

Maryland today became the first state to require contractors to pay workers a living wage, the fruit of a months-long coalition campaign that included union members, religious leaders and civil rights advocates.

On its last day in session, the Maryland Senate voted, 31–16, to approve the measure, which was passed by the state House last week. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), who campaigned for the legislation, has promised to sign the bill.

The new law will require service contractors doing business with the state to pay employees $11.30 an hour in urban areas and $8.50 an hour in rural areas. The state’s minimum wage is $6.15 an hour.

The final vote is another step toward lifting thousands of Maryland workers out of poverty, says Fred Mason, president of the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO.

This vote is important for all workers. The union movement is the voice for all workers. We look out for workers, whether they are union members or not. And we don’t think the state should ever have been in the business of creating poverty-level jobs.

Maryland lawmakers passed a living-wage bill in 2004, but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R). The same year, legislators raised the state’s minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15 an hour.

This year, O’Malley called upon lawmakers to pass a statewide living wage during his State of the State address. Recently, cities and counties across the country have voted to pay workers a living wage. Read about living wage campaigns in Greater Boston, Memphis, Chicago and on college campuses.

Read more: http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/04/09/maryland-first-state-to-pass-living-wage/



This article is not copyrighted and can be shared freely.

Labor is getting some mileage out of the members that went to the polls in huge numbers last November.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Tektonik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-09-07 07:30 PM
Response to Original message
1. a good step
now there needs to be a federal living wage law
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-09-07 07:44 PM
Response to Original message
2. Kick for my home state and my great governor
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Olney Blue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Apr-09-07 07:53 PM
Response to Original message
3. I voted for this leadership!
:toast:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
blondie58 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-10-07 08:39 AM
Response to Original message
4. awesome
what a progressive state! Kudos to Maryland!!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ohio2007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-10-07 08:49 AM
Response to Original message
5. Should be a case study to watch over the next couple of years
Does this move only affect the contractor trades?
Nothing about the service sector or factory,industrial workers ?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
robcon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-10-07 08:50 AM
Response to Original message
6. The "urban areas" wage will have consequences.
See if any factories open in Baltimore in the next few years.

Dumb economics, IMO.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
tabasco Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-10-07 09:10 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. Your comment sounds like dumb economics.
Please explain how this law affects factories or their decision to open in Baltimore.

Maybe "cons" should take reading classes.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ohio2007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Apr-10-07 11:40 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. See my #5 comment
I think saving this thread for a future reference would either prove your point or show it a non factor. I think the article is about construction trades and possible hiring practices of less then legal aliens
Wasn't there a meat packing plant ( Hormel ) that was caught paying illegals under the table ?
I think unemployed americans lined up for those jobs that happened to become available when the illegals were dismissed ( and the illegals moved on to Baltimore ....to build houses ? )
;)
lol
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Nov 03rd 2024, 08:10 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC