Signatures are needed to place an initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage on the November ballot. “The initiative will gradually and responsibly increase the current minimum wage of $9 per hour to $15 per hour by 2026 and adjust annually thereafter to account for increases in the cost of living.” RTWN said the minimum wage increase will benefit nearly 150,000 working Nebraskans — 75 percent of all workers who will benefit are over 20 years old and nearly a quarter are over 40 years old. In addition, 60,000 work full-time. Nancy Williams, President and CEO of No More Empty Pots and petition sponsor, said, “This initiative will improve the lives of tens of thousands of Nebraska families. 1 in 5 workers who will benefit is a parent who supports children and is trying to make ends meet. The cost of groceries, housing, and essentials have been rising for years, and inflation is now at record highs, but the minimum wage just hasn’t kept up. No one working full-time should have to struggle to make ends meet.” “Raising the minimum wage is a win/win for businesses and workers,” said Dave Titterington, owner of Wild Bird Habitat Stores in Lincoln and Omaha. “When you pay employees a living wage, they are happier, more engaged and more productive. And raising the minimum wage will allow workers to spend more at local businesses across Nebraska.” The first increase will take place in January 2023, taking the minimum wage from $9.00 to $10.50 an hour. “I am a mother of two elementary school children and a wife who has been in the workforce for 19 years. I’ve worked in education, the service industry, retail, child care, and human services – all earning minimum wage or a little more. I loved the work and the people, but my work wasn’t appreciated as much as it should have been and it made it almost impossible to make ends meet,” said Cindy Meyer, who spoke at the media conference. “If everyone made at least $15.00 an hour, we could take better care of ourselves, take better care of our families, and contribute more to our communities.” According to research by the Economic Policy Institute, 1 in 5 female workers in Nebraska will see their wages increase because of the initiative, and 43% of Nebraska workers who will benefit have at least some college or associate’s degree. If the initiative passes, 25 percent of black workers and 30 percent of Latino workers in Nebraska will see their wages increase. Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved.
