By S.A. Reid
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 02/28/08
A coalition of activists and faith leaders on Wednesday continued its push for an increase in the state minimum wage.
Cindia Cameron, Georgia Minimum Wage Coalition co-chairwoman, urged legislative action "so that all low-wage workers will get the minimum wage."
The coalition is especially concerned about workers in Georgia, such as tip earners and home health-care employees, who it said were excluded from the 2007 federal minimum wage increase.
"We represent the views of most Georgians," Cameron said later during a news conference outside the state Capitol.
State Rep. Doug McKillip (D-Athens) described the situation in Georgia as "minimum rage."
The coalition is looking to legislation such as McKillip's House Bill 845. It calls for raising the state minimum from the current $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour by 2009, to bring Georgia in line with the federal minimum.
The bill's provisions include an annual increase to keep pace with the cost of living, credits toward the minimum wage for employers of tipped workers, and an elimination of exemptions.
The coalition offered testimonials Wednesday from those affected and a list of more than 120 clergy leaders from across the state who support an increase in the state minimum wage.
A recent Georgia Women's Policy Survey commissioned by the Atlanta Women's Foundation found that 84 percent of voters polled support paying all workers the federal minimum wage or more.
Copyright 2008 Atlanta Journal Constitution