Richmond, Virginia—Republican members of the House Committee on Commerce and Energy, Subcommittee #2 voted to pass HB320 and HB296, two bill that would cap the minimum wage at $11 an hour, and prevent it from eventually reaching $15 an hour as working families have been demanding for years. With this vote, Republicans have shown, once […]
minimum wage
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In First Test, Senate Democrats Protect Our Progress, Reject Bill to Cap Minimum Wage
In the first major test of this legislative session, Democratic members of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted to protect our progress and rejected SB173, a bill sponsored by Senator Mark Peake that would cap the minimum wage at $11 an hour and prevent it from rising to the $15 an hour promised by previously passed legislation.
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Work, Work, Work, Work, Workers’ Rights
“How can we have a labor shortage if there are so many people who are unemployed?” Ahh, the question posed by all of our least favorite uncles. I think the answer can be summed up into three words: People are tired. Tired of working long hours for little pay. Tired of putting themselves at risk […]
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Raise the Wage for Virginia Farmworkers! May PV Spotlight on Legal Aid Justice Center
Throughout the pandemic, farmworkers have been out in the fields, busting their butts and risking their lives so we can eat. They work so hard harvesting crops, but some only take home $60 for a full day’s work. ? No one deserves such low pay for such hard work. In Virginia, this is allowed because […]
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Minimum Wage, Maximum Rage
by Kimberly Nario At the start of the pandemic (before I started working at Progress Virginia), I had to cobble together two part-time jobs with occasional freelance work to survive. My hours from these two jobs combined were equal to a single full-time job. So how could I be making more than twice the minimum […]
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We Need to Take Care of the Folks Who Put Food on Our Tables
Did you know that in Virginia, farm wages can make our minimum wage seem downright generous? I was shocked to learn that some employers take advantage of the fact that agricultural workers, the majority of whom are Black and Brown, are exempt from Virginia’s new Minimum Wage Act. Even if our state minimum wage increases, […]
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ICYMI: Workers on Frontlines of Pandemic Response Urge Governor Northam to Sign Minimum Wage Increase
Grocery store workers are urging that Governor Northam sign HB395 to increase the minimum wage without any amendments that will water it down. When people who work in grocery stores and home health care are considered essential personnel, they deserve to be paid at least $15 an hour, and passing HB395 is the first step […]
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Virginia Workers Deserve a Raise for Keeping Us Alive
I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure how I would be getting through the COVID-19 lockdown if the workers at my grocery store weren’t at the top of their game right now. As I try to map out how to shop so I can minimize the number of times I leave the house, […]
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Grocery Store Workers and Advocates Urge Governor Northam to Sign Bill to Increase to Minimum Wage
Workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic joined a video call this afternoon to urge Governor Northam to sign HB395, an increase to the minimum wage, into law. When people who work in grocery stores and home health care are considered essential personnel, they deserve to be paid at least $15 an hour, and […]
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ICYMI: Small Business Owners Come Out In Support of a $15 Minimum Wage
Richmond, Virginia—As lawmakers debate the merits of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, small business owners are coming out in support of the measure. Small business owners know that paying their employees higher wages is good for business. “Everyone should have the opportunity to work hard and thrive in our communities. But when […]