The Latest in the Fight for $15: Polk County

The Fight for $15 is wrapping up at the Polk County Board of Supervisor meetings, as the Supervisors voted to raise the minimum wage to $10.75 by 2019, one step closer to a living wage of $15/hr.However, the Supervisors took two steps back by moving forward with the youth wage (85% of minimum wage) and blindsiding the public with an amendment to freeze the tipped wage at $5/hr.Last Tuesday, over two dozen CCI members – including teens – went head-to-head with the Supervisors, calling them out for putting the interests of the restaurant and grocery industry before the needs everyday Iowans. Our message was loud and clear.

• No exclusions – no freezing tipped wages and no youth wage

• Fight for $15 – a living wage is good for workers, businesses and all of us.

Despite public outcry, the Supervisors are refusing to scrap the youth wage and tipped wage exemptions, but it’s not over!

Plug in!

Four GREAT letters-to-the-editor on the Fight for $15 in Polk County, read: 

• Teen workers are helping parents provide for family

• Minimum wage hikes are too little, too late

• Lower minimum wage for youth is unjust

• Social safety net is for people, not corporations

And one AWESOME video:This is why we need $15/hr