Cranston City Council Members Steve Stycos and John Donegan introduce an ordinance to raise the minimum wage for City employees to $12.75 an hour.

“It is my opinion that before we consider raises to the Mayor’s salary, or Council pay, we should address the issue of City employees who make less than a living wage,” said Donegan. “$12.75 is not quite a true living wage in the City of Cranston, but it’s an important step forward.”

Cranston City Council Minority Leader Steve Stycos and Council Member John Donegan have introduced legislation that will raise the minimum wage for City employees up to $12.75 an hour. 

“When I ran for City Council I promised to prioritize issues concerning working families,” said Donegan, the first-term Democratic Council Member from Ward 3. “It is my opinion that before we consider raises to the Mayor’s salary, or Council pay, we should address the issue of City employees who make less than a living wage. $12.75 is not quite a true living wage in the City of Cranston, but it’s an important step forward.”

Increasing the minimum wage to $12.75 an hour will impact over 70 families. Some will see an increase of over $2.00 to their hourly wage. The proposed minimum wage increase will have the same fiscal impact upon the City as the proposed raises for the Mayor and City Council introduced in August by several Council members. 

“The workers who will benefit from this raise do valuable work at our libraries, the ice rink, and the senior center. Some are paid the state minimum wage. They deserve better,” said Stycos, elected City wide. 

The ordinance, if passed, would take effect January 1, 2021. The first hearing on the ordinance will take place on in Finance Committee on October 7.

[From a press release]