Clergy and Workers Rally to Raise Minimum Wage in St. Louis and Kansas City

Religious and community leaders will join low-wage workers to call on voters, legislators and candidates to support an increase in the minimum wage today at 4:30 in St. Louis and Kansas City.

The current $7.25 provides a full-time worker with $290 per week, or barely $15,080 per year. This is simply not enough to live on as the cost of groceries, gas and other household items continues to rise. Missouri voters will have a chance to vote in November to raise our minimum wage one dollar to $8.25 per hour. In Congress, legislation has been introduced to raise the national minimum wage to $9.80 per hour. Today’s events are part of a National Day of Action taking place in 17 major cities across the country marking the 3rd anniversary of the last increase in the federal minimum wage, from $5.85 to $7.25 an hour.
Details for St. Louis action:

• WHEN: Tuesday, July 24th at 4:30 p.m.
• WHERE: Applebee’s, 6734 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63117
• WHO: Faith leaders, community leaders and workers
• WHAT: Rally to call on senatorial candidates Todd Akin, Sarah Steelman and John Brunner to support an increase in the state and federal minimum wages. Speakers will include minimum wage workers and faith leaders highlighting the difficulties raising a family on minimum wage.

Details for Kansas City action:

• WHEN: Tuesday, July 24th at 4:30p
• WHERE: Sen. Roy Blunt’s Office, 911 Main St, Kansas City MO 64105
• WHO: Missouri Jobs with Justice, KC 99 Coalition, Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, Communities Creating Opportunities
• WHAT: Press conference and rally to demand that Sen Blunt support Sen. Harkin’s proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $9.80 an hour. Speakers will include minimum wage workers and faith leaders highlighting the inability to support families on the current minimum wage.

For more on the campaign to raise the wage in Missouri, visit www.GiveMOaRaise.org.