Des Moines, IA -- Raise the Wage Iowa, a coalition of small business owners, faith leaders, as well as labor and community organizations, will rally to raise the minimum wage on Tuesday, March 31st, at 5 events across the state of Iowa. Events will begin in Des Moines at the state capitol, continue in the home districts of the 'Terrible Trio' in the Iowa House who are blocking a minimum wage increase.
The Iowa Senate passed a bipartisan compromise minimum wage increase last month, but Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen, Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, and Labor Committee Chair Greg Forristall have not allowed it for a vote in the Iowa House. If the legislation does not move forward by Friday, April 3rd, it will not survive the legislative 'funnel' and working Iowans will have to wait at least one more year for a raise.
Next Tuesday's statewide day of action will call on the 'Terrible Trio' of Paulsen, Upmeyer, and Forristall to allow a vote on a minimum wage increase. Iowa is falling behind our neighboring states in wage growth, and we cannot afford to wait any longer!
Event Details - Tuesday, March 31st
9:30 AM Kick-Off Press Conference at the Capitol
Iowa State Capitol, Room 116
1007 East Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa
Speakers:
Sue Dinsdale, Iowa Citizen Action Network, Matt Sinovic, Progress Iowa, Chris Schwartz, Americans for Democratic Action.
2:30 PM Press Conference in Clear Lake, Majority Leader Upmeyer's hometown
LOCATION: Lakeview Community Center, 10 N Lakeview Drive, Clear Lake
Speakers: Chris Petersen, Iowa Main Street Alliance; Sue Dinsdale, Iowa Citizen Action Network and Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
4:30 PM Press Conference in Hiawatha, Speaker Paulsen's hometown
Hiawatha Public Library , 150 Willman St, Hiawatha Iowa
Speaker: Rick Moyle , Hawkeye Labor Council AFL/CIO & Mike Owen Iowa policy Project
12:00 PM Press Conference in Macedonia, Rep. Forristall's hometown
US Post Office, 319 Main St, Macedonia, Iowa
Speaker: Matt Sinovic, Progress Iowa
5:00 PM Rock the Wage Front Porch Concert
1105 Mulberry St, Waterloo, Iowa
Speaker: Chris Schwartz, Americans for Democratic Action
Band: False Indigo
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS in RAISE THE WAGE IOWA:
AFSCME Iowa Council 61
American Friends Service Committee
Americans for Democratic Action
Des Moines Education Association
Food & Water Watch
Hawkeye labor Council AFL/CIO
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund
Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund
Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Iowa Community Action Association
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL/CIO
Iowa Main Street Alliance
Iowa State Education Association
Methodist Federation for Social Action, Iowa Chapter
Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa
Progress Iowa
RESULTS
SEIU Iowa - Local 199
South Central Federation of Labor, AFL/CIO
UNI Americans for Democratic Action
