Breaking: U.S. House Passes Bill to Raise the Minimum Wage!

Today, the U.S. House passed H.R.582, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019! The bill increases the minimum wage over the next six years until it reaches $15 an hour in 2025. Next, the bill will head to the U.S. Senate.

The federal minimum wage hasn't been increased by a penny in the last decade. Meanwhile, the cost of living has substantially increased for working people. For many, working 40 hours or more a week is not enough to support themselves and their families and the low floor makes it more difficult to raise wages at the bargaining table. Airline employees, call center workers, retail store employees, and bank workers are among those who work full time for some of the most highly profitable corporations, but still earn poverty level wages.

"Anyone who works full time deserves to earn a living wage so they can live with dignity and respect," said CWA's Director of Legislation, Politics, and International Affairs Shane Larson. "It is time to raise the wages of these low income workers and ensure the economy works for everyone, instead of just those in the 1%."