Senate District 31 Candidate Kendra Anderson’s statement on minimum wage increase
“As a member of the Rhode Island Political Coop I have made increasing the minimum wage to $15 a top platform priority since day one,” said Kendra Anderson. I was not surprised to see, once again, the inability of our Rhode Island Senate to enact real change in our state. Instead of passing a bill out of committee that would
February 3, 2020, 1:22 pm
By Uprise RI Staff
“As a member of the Rhode Island Political Coop I have made increasing the minimum wage to $15 a top platform priority since day one,” said Kendra Anderson.
I was not surprised to see, once again, the inability of our Rhode Island Senate to enact real change in our state. Instead of passing a bill out of committee that would chart a predictable path to a minimum wage of $15 an hour in the next few years, my opponent, following the will of Senate leadership, introduced a bill to increase it by a $1 this October, with no increases beyond 2020. Both workers and employers need to plan for the long term economic needs of their families and businesses. A predictable and gradual path to a livable wage of $15 an hour would provide that.
Instead of passing a bill like the one introduced by members of the General Assembly who have worked for years to bring attention to the need to raise the minimum wage to $15 for all workers, including the thousands of tip workers in Rhode Island who contribute to our thriving hospitality industry, my opponent introduced a last-minute bill that would leave those people out in the dust.
While those who are against minimum wage increases tried once again to make the claim that most people who make minimum wage in Rhode Island are teenagers, that simply isn’t the case. A large percentage of minimum wage workers are women, many with children who are trying to make enough money to survive, often times working more than one job. As a single parent who worked two sometimes three minimum wage jobs to make sure I could provide for my son and accommodate his needs, I know the real struggles facing people in Rhode Island.
Any working Rhode Islander should be paid a fair and equal wage. We need true leadership in this State to be able to do simple things like make sure all Rhode Islanders who work 40 hours a week can make at least $31,000 a year. As a member of the Rhode Island Political Coop I have made increasing the minimum wage to $15 a top platform priority since day one. This fall I am looking forward to being on the ballot for the chance to create legislation that moves our state forward and helps everyone thrive.
[From a press release]
