June 20, 2006

Dear Senator:

RE: Please Vote to Increase the Minimum Wage

This week you have a chance to take a modest step forward to make work pay in America. Sen. Kennedy will offer an amendment to the defense bill that would increase the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. On behalf of the seven Change to Win unions representing 6 million workers, I ask you to do what is right and just and support the increase.

As you know, Congress has not increased the minimum wage since 1997. Yet, over those nine years, congressional salaries have increased by nearly $35,000. The 6.6 million Americans – 80% of whom are adults – working at the minimum wage deserve a raise as well.

If we want Americans to work, we need to make work pay. That means helping every American achieve the American Dream – a salary that can support a family, affordable health care, retirement security, a voice on the job, and a chance to give their kids an education and a better future.

While an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour will not fully achieve the American Dream for low-wage workers, it is an important step in the right direction.

It is likely that alternatives to the Kennedy proposal will be offered that provide a more modest increase in the minimum wage and also include measures that are very harmful to workers. I strongly urge you to oppose such amendments.

Recently, 57 senators supported eliminating the estate tax – a proposal that benefits the richest of the rich Americans. Surely those 57 senators could join us in support for rewarding the work of low-wage workers. This is one of those touchstone votes that speak volumes about who we are as a country. I ask you to do the right thing and support the Kennedy minimum wage increase.

Sincerely,

Anna Burger
Chair