St. Louis Workers Poised to Take Huge Step Forward with Board of Aldermen Vote to Raise Local Minimum Wage

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis families and the Missouri Jobs With Justice coalition today celebrated the City Board of Aldermen’s perfection of BB83, a local ordinance to raise the minimum wage for St. Louis workers this year, and then incrementally until it reaches $11/hour in 2018.

“St. Louis families took a big step forward today. Workers who had been getting nickel and dime raises in recents years will be getting a well-deserved raise for the next three years,” said Lara Granich, Executive Director of Missouri Jobs With Justice. “We have seen firsthand how important it is for local leaders to have have the power to do the right thing when Jefferson City politicians fail to act. This is a good day.”

“This is a good start,” said Rasheen Aldridge, a co-chair of Missouri Jobs With Justice, member of the Ferguson Commission and former Jimmy John’s worker. “It’s not the livable wage we urgently need but this is going to benefit a lot of families for years to come. Some people can begin to get their heads above water. I’m proud of my co-workers from Jimmy Johns and other fast food workers for starting this conversation by taking to the streets. It helped people see we are not kids. It’s adults with families working these low wage jobs.”

“This is a great day for businesses and the economy of St. Louis,” said Lew Prince, co-founder and former CEO at Vintage Vinyl. “It’s time for St. Louis County to catch up. The city is going to steal your best workers, if you don’t raise your wage.”