Gallup Minimum Wage Heads to Voters

From NM ACORN:
Over 100 people packed the Gallup City Council Chambers Tuesday night, most of them supporting a proposal to give Gallup the strongest minimum wage ordinance in New Mexico outside of Santa Fe.

Supporters petitioned to bring the referendum before the city government, but the council chose, instead, to put it on the March 6 municipal ballot for voters to decide. The measure would raise the minimum wage to $6.75 within 60 days, then to $7.50 by January 1, 2008. The wage would rise with the cost of living annually. Small businesses with fewer than 15 employees are exempted, but teenagers are covered.

Unfortunately, the council also chose to put a weak alternative on the ballot, as well. If both measures are approved, the one with the most votes becomes law. The alternative raises the minimum wage to $6.50 July 1, $7.00 January 1, 2008, and $7.50 July 1, 2008, but it does not have cost-of-living increases and it does not cover teenagers. It does not, however, exempt small businesses.

Minimum Wage Lobby Day
The Gallup Minimum Wage Initiative underscores the importance of our Minimum Wage Lobby Day next Thursday, January 18, at 10:30 AM, at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Proposals to ban local ordinances as part of any state minimum wage bill have serious traction. Supporters of local measures in Gallup, Taos, or other cities that have not yet considered moving stronger legislation than what Congress or the State Legislature is entertaining should join us to speak up for Local Control.

For more information, please contact Matthew Henderson at nmacorn@acorn.org.