Coalition holds news conference to raise state minimum wage
By Bryson Alford
The Signal (GA State University), 3/18/08
Not even 29-degree weather with snow drizzle could halt the Georgia Minimum Wage Coalition's momentum to increase the state minimum wage.
On Wednesday, Feb. 27, the coalition held a news conference outside the Georgia Capital building to demonstrate public support for House Bill 845, which will increase the state minimum wage for workers who are exempt from the federal minimum wage.
Amplifying the moral implications of the bill, the conference was mainly to display the support of the religious community with signatures of over 100 members of the clergy who support the bill.
Rev. Gary W. Charles of the Central Presbyterian Church spoke of the shame he witnesses everyday when women and men constantly try to work their way out of poverty but can't due to such legislation that prevents them from making a livable wage.
"We have a moral responsibility to pay women and men a decent wage in this state, at least at the ridiculously low wage of the federal level," said Charles. "I am here to support, along with my sisters and brothers from the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities, a call for those who call themselves religious to act in a way that is faithful to our God."
Charles directed some comments to legislators, stating, "The book of Deuteronomy proclaims [the government] shall not withhold the wages of the poor and needy laborers."
Rep. Doug McKillip, who introduced HB 845, expressed his disgust for the current legislation as well. "It is outrageous that the minimum wage here in Georgia is still $5.15 an hour. It is snowing out here and it is cold, but it might be a little colder if you had get up and go to a job this morning that only pays $5.15 an hour," said McKillip.
McKillip also enlightened everyone on the bill's progress. "HB 845 is in committee on the House side. I have requested now to the point where I am begging on hands and knees to get a hearing before my chairman," said McKillip.
"While you'll are working in the halls and doing your job, we are fighting the fight on the inside. You'll keep fighting the fight on the outside."
Sen. Nan Orrock discussed her view of working in a Georgia legislature that cares nothing about hard working families in poverty.
"This Georgia House of Representatives and Senate have failed to listen to those who are the most vulnerable and the hardest working members of society. We continue to see this administration and this leadership block effort to raise the minimum wage in Georgia to the national level that was shamelessly held down for the last 9 to 12 years." said Orrock.
Lisa Robinson and Pamela Klein, working in the fields that are exempt from federal minimum wage, spoke of their grief and misfortune. Robinson works in the home health care industry. She is a job coach at Supported Employment Specialist, Inc, as well as a trained Direct Support Professional who has a son with a disability, so she has to keep DSP staff in her home on a daily basis.
According to Robinson, she constantly has problems with DSP workers coming to her home to watch her son because of their wages. They complain that they have to work several other jobs to take care of their families.
Klein is a waitress at a restaurant, making her income mainly off tips. The minimum wage for tipped workers in Georgia is $2.13 an hour. According to Klein, many people with families who work as waitresses and waiters have to live in apartments with other families just to survive.
Much like Robinson and Klein's testimony, "there are real life people across this state raising their families and working two or three jobs to make [it], who are being blamed when their homes get foreclosed or when they have an on the job injury in a society where people are held down with low paying jobs and no voice at work. We can do better," said Orrock
© Copyright 2008 Signal & Urbanite
By Bryson Alford
The Signal (GA State University), 3/18/08
Not even 29-degree weather with snow drizzle could halt the Georgia Minimum Wage Coalition's momentum to increase the state minimum wage.
On Wednesday, Feb. 27, the coalition held a news conference outside the Georgia Capital building to demonstrate public support for House Bill 845, which will increase the state minimum wage for workers who are exempt from the federal minimum wage.
Amplifying the moral implications of the bill, the conference was mainly to display the support of the religious community with signatures of over 100 members of the clergy who support the bill.
Rev. Gary W. Charles of the Central Presbyterian Church spoke of the shame he witnesses everyday when women and men constantly try to work their way out of poverty but can't due to such legislation that prevents them from making a livable wage.
"We have a moral responsibility to pay women and men a decent wage in this state, at least at the ridiculously low wage of the federal level," said Charles. "I am here to support, along with my sisters and brothers from the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities, a call for those who call themselves religious to act in a way that is faithful to our God."
Charles directed some comments to legislators, stating, "The book of Deuteronomy proclaims [the government] shall not withhold the wages of the poor and needy laborers."
Rep. Doug McKillip, who introduced HB 845, expressed his disgust for the current legislation as well. "It is outrageous that the minimum wage here in Georgia is still $5.15 an hour. It is snowing out here and it is cold, but it might be a little colder if you had get up and go to a job this morning that only pays $5.15 an hour," said McKillip.
McKillip also enlightened everyone on the bill's progress. "HB 845 is in committee on the House side. I have requested now to the point where I am begging on hands and knees to get a hearing before my chairman," said McKillip.
"While you'll are working in the halls and doing your job, we are fighting the fight on the inside. You'll keep fighting the fight on the outside."
Sen. Nan Orrock discussed her view of working in a Georgia legislature that cares nothing about hard working families in poverty.
"This Georgia House of Representatives and Senate have failed to listen to those who are the most vulnerable and the hardest working members of society. We continue to see this administration and this leadership block effort to raise the minimum wage in Georgia to the national level that was shamelessly held down for the last 9 to 12 years." said Orrock.
Lisa Robinson and Pamela Klein, working in the fields that are exempt from federal minimum wage, spoke of their grief and misfortune. Robinson works in the home health care industry. She is a job coach at Supported Employment Specialist, Inc, as well as a trained Direct Support Professional who has a son with a disability, so she has to keep DSP staff in her home on a daily basis.
According to Robinson, she constantly has problems with DSP workers coming to her home to watch her son because of their wages. They complain that they have to work several other jobs to take care of their families.
Klein is a waitress at a restaurant, making her income mainly off tips. The minimum wage for tipped workers in Georgia is $2.13 an hour. According to Klein, many people with families who work as waitresses and waiters have to live in apartments with other families just to survive.
Much like Robinson and Klein's testimony, "there are real life people across this state raising their families and working two or three jobs to make [it], who are being blamed when their homes get foreclosed or when they have an on the job injury in a society where people are held down with low paying jobs and no voice at work. We can do better," said Orrock
© Copyright 2008 Signal & Urbanite