Maryland Fight for $15

As a federation of public sector labor unions, the AFT-Maryland is committed to fair wages for all of its members. That commitment extends to the entire collective of Maryland workers. That’s why the AFT-Maryland has signed on and supports the Maryland Fight for 15. This call to raise the minimum wage for all workers to $15.00 per hour. This wage will allow families living on the edge or near poverty to begin to climb the ladder of social mobility.

On Thursday, March 8, 2018, the Maryland Fight for 15 Coalition held a press conference in advance of a hearing in the Maryland state Senate. The press conference was attended by a number of elected officials including Sen. Ron Young of Frederick and Del. Jazz Lewis of Prince George’s County. Baltimore City Councilman Kristerfer Burnett was also in attendance at the press conference and testified later that day at the Senate hearing. He remarked he was there to call for a $15 minimum wage because “poverty is violence.”

AFT-Maryland is among a number of labor unions and community groups supporting the Fight for 15. Among the other unions supporting are SEIU and AFSCME as well as a host of community groups. A  bill was introduced last year but did not make it out of committee. Organizers are optimistic this session’s efforts will be more successful.

For more, visit: http://ff15maryland.org/

2018-03-15