AZ Leg. Committee to Younger Workers - "You're Not Worth It"

In 2006 a grass root coalition made up of labor, civic, community, and religious leaders formed the “Arizona Minimum Wage Coalition.” Chaired by Rebekah Friend, Executive Director of the AZ AFL-CIO, the coalition canvassed the state, gathered over 200,000 signatures and placed Proposition 202- The Minimum Wage Initiative on the ballot.

Arizona voters went to the polls and declared with a loud and progressive voice that working Arizonans deserve to be paid a sufficient minimum wage and overwhelmingly passed Prop 202.

Now, 4 years later, Arizona’s lawmakers want to overturn the will of the voters and cut the pay to younger workers.

The Republican-controlled House Commerce Committee approved Legislation (HB2639 and HCR2043) this week that would cut the current minimum wage by 25% for Arizona workers 22 years of age and younger. Their rationale - if you allow certain business owners the ability to pay sub-standard wages then in turn those businesses will create more jobs.

Funny, that’s the same rationale turn-of-the-century industrial sweat shop owners used to justify paying sub-standard wages to their employees - many being women and young workers.

I am all for creating more jobs in the State but cutting the minimum wage paid to anyone makes little sense. It creates an artificial wage disparity gap that would reverberate throughout all age sectors impacting younger and older workers alike.

The legislation will now head to the full House for a vote. Call your representative and tell them to vote no on these measures. An injury to one is a concern for all!