Why indexing the minimum wage is important for women in Maine

last week our lobbyist, Laura Harper, testified in support of LD 192, “An Act To Index the State Minimum Wage to Inflation.”

This legislation would  adjust Maine’s minimum wage based on changes in the federal Consumer Price Index for the Northeast. With passage, this would put Maine among the 10 other states that also index their minimums.

In her testimony to the Labor Committee Laura stated that,

“For the first time in our nation’s history, women make up half (49.9%) of the workforce. Yet, women consistently make less than men in comparable occupations, women out-number men in minimum wage occupations, and they are less likely to have access to benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and retirement. For women working today, the stakes are higher. When we bring home the paycheck, we need to stretch it farther for our own sake and that of our families. Even for the sake of the economy, our dollars will be returned to the community when we have greater capacity to purchase goods and services. Indexing the minimum wage is an effective way to measurably keep the wage floor consistent with the cost of living. It protects working women and their families.”

Laura was also joined by MPA, SEIU, AFL-CIO, Catholic Diocese, MEJEP, numerous workers, ROC- Maine, and MECEP in testifying in support of the legislation.