​Washington D.C. - On April 30, 2015, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Robert Scott (D-VA) introduced the Raise the Wage Act which would raise the minimum wage to $12 by 2020, index the federal minimum wage to the median wage, and gradually eliminate the subminimum tipped wage. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) supports the passage of this legislation to raise the wages for 37.7 million minimum wage workers. As the rising cost of living gradually increases, the current federal minimum wage at $7.25 per hour is simply not enough to support a family. Raising the minimum wage for all workers struggling to make ends meet is long overdue and we urge Congress to act swiftly and provide minimum wage workers the overdue raise they deserve. Click HERE to read the Raise the Wage Fact Sheet. 

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Washington, DC – The Senate voted against a Democratic Bill to raise the federal minimum wage for 25 million hard working Americans. Needing 60 votes to pass, the Senate fell 6 votes shy of passing as Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the measure that would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. With the poverty rates rising and high cost of living expenses, the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is simply not enough for working class Americans to support their families. Moreover, the tipped minimum wage has remained stagnant at $2.13 per hour for over two decades.

​President Obama signed an executive order in February raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for federal contractors and urged Congress to do the same for all workers. Despite the support of the President and the general public, many Republican Senators remain skeptical of the benefits of raising the minimum wage. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democrats plan to bring the bill back to the floor and will continue to keep this issue in the national spotlight. APALA chapters and members will continue to put pressure on Congress to raise the minimum wage for the working class. 

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Washington, DC – After announcing his intention to raise the federal contractor minimum wage during the State of the Union address, President Obama officially signed an Executive Order today requiring federal contractors to pay employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour. Roughly 250,000 low wage workers, including custodians, security guards, and food service workers in federal buildings will benefit. The increase from the current minimum of $7.25 would be effective beginning January 1, 2015.

“This increase benefits many working families in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and we need to continue our efforts to pressure Congress to raise the minimum wage for all workers, including tipped workers.” said Johanna Hester, APALA National President. “It is important that we recognize the contributions of all workers from all sectors and begin investing in the entire American workforce.”

Too many working families are struggling to make ends and boosting pay for workers will help lower turnover rates, increase productivity, and help America’s economy grow. More than 30 million Americans would benefit if Congress acted swiftly and passed the Fair Minimum Wage Act.

​"President Obama's Executive Order raising the minimum wage for Federal contracted workers is a step in the right direction,” said APALA National Executive Board Member Darren Shiroma, who was present for the signing. “Today, $7.25 is not enough to support working families, and workers need fair wages to recognize their contributions to their employer's bottom line. Congress must follow suit and raise the nation's minimum wage for all Americans.” 

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