The primary sponsors of the bill to increase the federal minimum wage, Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Representative David E. Bonior (D-MI), have decided to revise their original proposal. The original legislation, the American Family Fair Minimum Wage Act, proposed to increase the minimum wage by 50 cents an hour in 1998, 1999, and 2000 and by 30 cents an hour in 2001 and 2002. The revised bill retains its name and the 50 cent an hour increase in 1998, 1999, and 2000, but in subsequent years indexes increases to inflation.

(1) Conversations with the bill’s primary sponsors has led to the possibility that President Clinton will support an increase in the minimum wage and mention that support during his State of the Union speech on January 27. Presidential support would give the campaign for an increase a significant boost.

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE, BEFORE JANUARY 27, TO URGE THE PRESIDENT TO SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE AND TO MENTION THAT SUPPORT IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.

The most expedient methods of contact include:

Email: president@whitehouse.gov

Telephone via the White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111

(2) A reminder that efforts should continue to encourage your Senators and Representative to cosponsor the American Family Fair Minimum Wage Act. (See Alert, "Join NASW in the Campaign for a Fair Minimum Wage," dated December 23 for more details. Alert can be accessed through NASW’s website: www.naswdc.org.) We need to have as many cosponsors as possible when the bill is introduced on January 27, but adding cosponsors after that date will be equally important.

For more discussion, see the previous Alert on this initiative.

F.Y.I. A letter sent by NASW to Members of Congress urging them to cosponsor the bill follows.

January 15, 1998

The Honorable (first name, last name)
United States Senate (or U.S. House of Representatives)
Washington, DC 20510 (or 20515)

Dear Senator (last name) (or Representative [last name]):

As the centennial celebration of professional social work begins, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) urges you to join the effort to increase the federal minimum wage and become a cosponsor of the American Family Fair Minimum Wage Act. Social workers have a long and accomplished history in working for systemic changes to achieve social, political, and economic justice and is supporting an increase in the minimum wage as part of that proud legacy.

The bill would increase the minimum wage by 50 cents in 1998, 1999, and 2000 and index it to inflation in subsequent years. The last increase in the minimum wage, to $5.15 an hour on September 1, 1996, benefited over 10 million workers and failed to result in increased unemployment as opponents had predicted. But even at $5.15 a hour, an employee working full-time, full-year still earns $1,700 below the federal poverty level for a family of three.

The year of 1998 is an ideal time to build on last year’s increase. The economy remains strong, but its benefits are not being distributed fairly. The rich are getting richer, but the poor are getting poorer. From 1979-1995 real family income increased by 26 percent for earners in the top 20 percent, but fell by nine percent for earners in the bottom 20 percent. As a result, more adults and families are being forced to seek emergency assistance. A 1997 survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found an average increase of 16 percent in requests for emergency food assistance. The primary reason cited for the increase is low-paying jobs. A full 38 percent of adults requesting assistance were employed.

As professional social workers, we believe that full-time, full-year workers earning the minimum wage should not be forced to raise their families in poverty. We believe welfare recipients who make the transition into minimum wage jobs should have a real chance to become "self-sufficient." We hope you will sign onto the bill and join the effort to ensure economic justice for this country’s working men and women and their families.

Sincerely,

Josephine Nieves, MSW, PhD
Executive Director