I spent a number of volunteering hours in the last almost two years now making sure that this law to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr and guarantee up to 56 hours of sick time would pass and stay on the books. I would appreciate it if you read the whole article, and shared it with friends. Back when this was a petition, I gathered 688 signatures. I was the number 1 volunteer signature gatherer in the St. Louis area. I worked with a grassroots organization called Jobs with Justice to get this done. We passed this law in November with a 58% majority. Now the Missouri Legislature has come up with 3 bills to tear this law apart.
HB 758 — Eliminates the minimum wage for those under 21, repeals the cost of living adjustments or (COLA) to combat inflation, and makes these rules apply to all private and public employees.
HB 567 — Delays enactment of the law from May 1st, 2025 to January 1, 2026.
HB 958 — Exempts anyone under 21, any business with less than 50 workers, anyone who “resigns”, and anyone with two written warnings from qualifying for the new minimum wage.
How can you fight back? You can provide a written testimony to the house committee. You only have to work in Missouri (wink, wink) to be able to submit a written testimony.
To submit online testimony:
1. Make sure to select all three bills HB758, HB567, and HB958.
2. Select whether you are testifying as an individual or on behalf of an organization.
3. Mark opposed.
4. After you complete your testimony and submit it, be sure to check your email to verify your submission.
You will have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5th to submit your online testimony.
Click here for sample talking points.
I anticipate there will be more of this in the future. I will post updates as they come in. Unfortunately, I didn’t get enough notice on Week 1 to post anything. I want everyone to remember that, “When We Fight! We Win!” Please use the comments section for questions or other ideas that may not be in the sample list.
Solidarity Forever My Friends.