The head of a new political organization, joined by local union and religious leaders, officially kicked off his group’s effort to get a minimum wage initiative on the ballot next year, at a press conference outside the Wilson Building this morning.
D.C. Working Families, a local offshoot of the national group Working Families, is pushing for a ballot initiative that would require a minimum wage of $12.50 an hour by 2017, as well as a minimum wage of $8.70 for tipped workers.
The Rev. George Gilbert of Holy Trinity United Baptist, located east of the river, said his community feels the inequality in the city first-hand.
“We are the nation’s capital, but we are becoming the capital of inequality,” Gilbert said. “We have become a city that boasts about the amount of new residents … while the folks who have been here are being thrown away.”
Gilbert said he was “extremely disappointed” that Mayor Vince Gray vetoed the Larger Retailer Accountability Act, which would have required Wal-Mart to pay a minimum of $12.50 an hour, and that the Council did not override the veto.
“Our people need a raise,” he said. “The poor need your help.”
He said the “good news” is that the city doesn’t have to wait on the Council: “We can do it ourselves.”
Delvone Michael, executive director of D.C. Working Families, said that, although there are some D.C. politicians working for their cause, “time is running short.”
“We can’t wait no more,” he continued. “While they’re in there thinking, we’re going to be out here organizing.”
There are several minimum wage bills currently being considered by the D.C. Council. While Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) originally supported raising the minimum wage to $12.50, he recently showed a willingness to support $11.50 instead.
When asked by DCist to elaborate on why he feels a ballot initiative is necessary, Michael said the failure of the LRAA was part of it. “It demonstrates we can’t trust them to do the right thing,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be any real commitment to stand up for the people of D.C. So we think the people of D.C. is the best place to go.”
Now the group’s ballot initiative has to go to the Board of Elections, where its language must be approved. Then they will begin collecting signatures. Michael said he has no doubts that the people of D.C. will support them.