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To: West Virginia State Senators

URGENT: Tell West Virginia State Senators to Raise the Minimum Wage!

Interfaith Worker Justice

In March 2014, West Virginia passed a minimum wage bill – increasing it to $8.75 by 2016!

“I signed this bill because I believe it is a positive step toward helping more than 100,000 hardworking West Virginians earn a fair wage—including mothers, fathers, working adults, as well as teens working their first jobs,” Governor Tomblin said.

As people of faith from diverse traditions, we share a common conviction that the dignity of work and the security of the family are intrinsic moral values. In response to our Scripture’s repeated admonitions against exploiting and oppressing workers, we believe that every job must enable those who work to support a family.

We respect the dignity of our neighbors who toil under the yoke of today's unjust minimum wage, and we call on state senators to help ease their burden by making the minimum wage a family wage and passing HB 4283 raising it to $8.25 per hour and indexing it to inflation so it won't be eroded by the rising cost of living.

Why is this important?

The 2014 legislative session is set to end on March 8. On the line is a long-overdue increase in the state minimum wage, or in practical terms: the prospect for a better life for West Virginia's working families.

Our state senators MUST stand with working people and raise the minimum wage in West Virginia to $8.25 per hour and index it to inflation and increase the tipped minimum wage. ALL workers deserve a living wage and no one who works full time should toil in poverty.

Lobbyists from fast-food corporations like McDonald's and state hospitality industry groups are working hard to convince lawmakers that they cannot afford a minimum wage increase and that a raise would be bad for families and the economy. We know—and studies show— that these "bad for the economy" assertions are just not true. It's the workers who cannot afford NOT to get a raise.
West Virginia, United States

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Updates

2016-08-22 17:28:08 -0400

Petition is successful with 16 signatures

2014-04-02 12:59:05 -0400

Petition is successful with 12 signatures

2014-03-27 16:15:12 -0400

Petition is successful with 11 signatures

2014-03-06 13:24:18 -0500

Any last minute petition signatures would be SOOOO helpful! The Rev. Jeff Allen from the West Virginia Council of Churches is planning to deliver the signatures TODAY!

2014-03-05 16:01:17 -0500

10 signatures reached