Wednesday, May 25, 2005
SWOP homepageMinimum Wage Increase: Prepared Remarks for City Council Meeting
2 minutes for public comment:
Good evening President Winter, Councilors. I'm Karlos Schmieder, communications organizer for SouthWest Organizing Project. I live in Councilor O'Malley's district.
A minimum wage increase is long overdue and ultimately inevitable.
An increase (and even more so a real living wage) fits right in with SWOP’s economic justice and economic development work over the last 25 years. As one of the poorest states in the union, the message from political and economic leadership in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and around the state has been jobs at any cost. For Albuquerque Economic Development Corp., the Chambers' of Commerce and the politicians that do their bidding, New Mexico has been for sale, sometimes to the lowest of bidders. Corporate handouts and backroom deals have limited our development, determined our lives and relegated us to the bottom of the barrel.
As a result, New Mexico, despite all the economic development talk from politicians, still ranks poorly in per capita income, our low wages are still touted as a reason for companies to locate here, our education and health care systems are under-funded and under-valued, and working families continue to struggle to pay the bills.
SWOP has continuously organized and advocated for policies that increase wages, that build wealth in working, low income and communities of color and that pull NM and Albuquerque out of its economic slumber so young people who have grown up here can continue to live here and raise a family.
SWOP’s youth group – currently in Chiapas, Mexico on a cultural exchange – is actively working to build a positive agenda for young people in the city to affect city elections in the fall. They are particularly interested in a wage increase as young people are some of the lowest wage earners in the state.
Some will argue tonight that raising the minimum wage will hurt our economy’s competitiveness to attract jobs.
In reality, having such low wages hurts our competitiveness in attracting good paying, clean and dignified jobs. Companies who want to pay their employees livable wages and offer benefits just can't compete with those that don’t.
In the end, not only is this an issue of values put forth before the council tonight, but it’s an economically and politically smart move. Antonio Villaraigosa was just elected mayor Los Angeles partly because he spoke in favor of livable wages for jobs tied to development, subsidies and tax breaks.
Minimum Wage Increase Now! Invest in New Mexico's potential. As an elected body, it's time to stand up and say "We Value Hard Work!"
Good evening President Winter, Councilors. I'm Karlos Schmieder, communications organizer for SouthWest Organizing Project. I live in Councilor O'Malley's district.
A minimum wage increase is long overdue and ultimately inevitable.
An increase (and even more so a real living wage) fits right in with SWOP’s economic justice and economic development work over the last 25 years. As one of the poorest states in the union, the message from political and economic leadership in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and around the state has been jobs at any cost. For Albuquerque Economic Development Corp., the Chambers' of Commerce and the politicians that do their bidding, New Mexico has been for sale, sometimes to the lowest of bidders. Corporate handouts and backroom deals have limited our development, determined our lives and relegated us to the bottom of the barrel.
As a result, New Mexico, despite all the economic development talk from politicians, still ranks poorly in per capita income, our low wages are still touted as a reason for companies to locate here, our education and health care systems are under-funded and under-valued, and working families continue to struggle to pay the bills.
SWOP has continuously organized and advocated for policies that increase wages, that build wealth in working, low income and communities of color and that pull NM and Albuquerque out of its economic slumber so young people who have grown up here can continue to live here and raise a family.
SWOP’s youth group – currently in Chiapas, Mexico on a cultural exchange – is actively working to build a positive agenda for young people in the city to affect city elections in the fall. They are particularly interested in a wage increase as young people are some of the lowest wage earners in the state.
Some will argue tonight that raising the minimum wage will hurt our economy’s competitiveness to attract jobs.
In reality, having such low wages hurts our competitiveness in attracting good paying, clean and dignified jobs. Companies who want to pay their employees livable wages and offer benefits just can't compete with those that don’t.
In the end, not only is this an issue of values put forth before the council tonight, but it’s an economically and politically smart move. Antonio Villaraigosa was just elected mayor Los Angeles partly because he spoke in favor of livable wages for jobs tied to development, subsidies and tax breaks.
Minimum Wage Increase Now! Invest in New Mexico's potential. As an elected body, it's time to stand up and say "We Value Hard Work!"
