On May 15th, CKCPJ's Lexington Working Families Campaign joined up with several other organizations to raise awareness about the LFUCG Council's deliberations on raising minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 over three years, starting July 1, 2016. Gathering at Triangle Park in downtown Lexington during the afternoon rush hour, the allies together with CKCPJ included the Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC), the Lexington Workers League, the Teamsters Local, and Community Action Council. Many offered to share signs they had already made and they brought sign making supplies for those who wanted to make their own. A good crowd showed up for the rally, and several passers-by honked their horns in support.
On Tuesday before the rally, the Urban County Council began the formal process for hearing the minimum wage proposal led by Council member Jennifer Mossoti (see more in the Herald-Leader article on this). The delay in considering the proposal had come in March, when the Urban County Council's Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee voted 9-1 to postpone the full testimony from community members and the Council's debate until this summer.
According to a Herald Leader article describing the session in March, Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KCEP), had told the council that nationally, of those who earn less that $10.10 an hour, 90% are adults over the age of 20. 57% of those low-wage workers are women, many of whom are in retail, restaurant or food services. See more information on this on the KCEP website: "Who Stands to Benefit from a Minimum Wage Increase in Lexington" (March 16, 2015).
On April 22nd, the Lexington Working Families Campaign hosted an information session at the Lexington Friends Meeting House. There David Christiansen, CKCPJ Co-Chair, presented important facts and the main ideas behind what happened in Louisville as well as other cities when they raised the minimum wages for workers in their local areas. This meeting helped to prepare everyone for the rally in May.
On June 8th, the LFUCG Council will be taking testimony from the community on the issue of raising the minimum wage. Every voice - and every body who attends - matters. Remember, your civic action is what keeps our government accountable to the citizens. If you aren't there, then our elected officials might imagine you don't care. The Facebook Event page is located here - if you have a Facebook account, please join up. This will help you in getting reminders and key information as the day gets closer.
On June 23rd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join CKCPJ at the Phoenix Park rally downtown. See more on the flyer (right) - please download it and share with others.
Follow along on all that's happening with the CKCPJ Facebook Community Page or follow CKCPJ on Twitter. See more information about the CKCPJ Twitter feed on the right nav bar (of this website).
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