Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
"Raise the Wage Nebraska" Files Minimum Wage Ballot Initiative
***For Immediate Release***
Monday, August 9, 2021
Contact: Magdalena Cazarez
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119
C: (402) 504-0074
mcazarez@neappleseed.org
“Raise the Wage Nebraska” Files Minimum Wage Ballot Initiative
Lincoln, NE — Today, a coalition of Nebraska community members, advocates, and supporters announced the launch of Raise the Wage Nebraska to raise our state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. The initiative aims to invest in the future of Nebraskans and benefit communities across the state.
Co-sponsor of the initiative, Senator Terrell McKinney, issued the following statement:
“Poverty is at the root of many of the issues we are trying to tackle in our state; one way to begin decreasing poverty is to raise the minimum wage and change the cycle of surviving the good life to living the good life.”
Nebraska Appleseed’s Economic Justice Director, Ken Smith, issued the following statement:
“As a state that takes pride in shared prosperity and caring for our neighbors, we have a responsibility to ensure that every Nebraskan is paid a fair wage. Unfortunately, the current state minimum wage is failing too many of our friends and neighbors who are in a constant struggle to make ends meet.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nebraska consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of people working multiple jobs. 42 percent of Nebraska families with low pay spend at least a third of their income on housing alone. The good life is out of reach for many middle and working-class Nebraskans. Gradually increasing the minimum wage is a step toward increasing opportunity for Nebraska families and achieving racial and gender pay equity across the state. When each of us has the opportunity to thrive, communities across our state thrive.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nebraska consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of people working multiple jobs. 42 percent of Nebraska families with low pay spend at least a third of their income on housing alone. The good life is out of reach for many middle and working-class Nebraskans. Gradually increasing the minimum wage is a step toward increasing opportunity for Nebraska families and achieving racial and gender pay equity across the state. When each of us has the opportunity to thrive, communities across our state thrive.”
“Raise the Wage Nebraska” includes the following coalition members:
ACLU of Nebraska
The Arc of Nebraska
Heartland Workers Center
Holland Children’s Movement
NAACP Lincoln Branch
Nebraska Appleseed
Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
Nebraska State AFL-CIO
No More Empty Pots
OutNebraska
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska
Power of People Omaha- Political Action Committee
Rabble Mill
Senator Megan Hunt
Senator Terrell McKinney
South of Downtown Community Development Organization
Together
Voices for Children in Nebraska
YWCA Lincoln
https://neappleseed.org/blog/35938
