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New Mexico Workers Celebrate Step Toward Higher Minimum Wage

Commentary: On Wednesday, low-wage workers celebrated a step toward higher minimum wages for all as the New Mexico House of Representatives voted 44-26 to advance a proposal that would phase-in an increase in the state minimum wage for workers across New Mexico, including tipped workers.

HB 31, sponsored by Representative Miguel Garcia (D-Bernalillo) and Joanne Ferrary (D - District 37), would increase New Mexico's minimum wage from $7.50 to $10.00 beginning July 1, 2019 until reaching $12 an hour in 2021. The bill would also include an annual increase to adjust for inflation, beginning July 1, 2022. The last time there was an increase in minimum wage, it happened in 2009.

And after much discussion to exclude tipped workers from getting an increase in the minimum wage along with other workers, tipped workers prevailed. The proposal was amended to include a new phased-out of the tipped wage.

Increasing New Mexico's minimum wage would make a significant difference to an estimated 245,894 workers, and their families, across the state who would see an increase in their wages and greater economic security. Raising the minimum wage would also stimulate local economies as workers spend their increased earnings on goods and services in their communities.

Below are reactions from low-wage workers and various community organizations:

"This is a long overdue victory for workers in New Mexico," said Maria de Jesus Martinez, long-time resident of Bloomfield who works as a cook at a local restaurant and is a member of Familia Unidas Por Justicia, Somos Un Pueblo Unido's membership team in San Juan County. "Ten years is too long to go without a raise. The cost of living in rural communities like Bloomfield have continued to increase but our wages have stayed the same. But today, we are one step closer to ensuring families like mine are finally able to save up to buy a house and invest more in our children's education."

"We deserve a raise just like any other worker," said Diego Martinez, a long time resident of Santa Fe who works as a server at a local restaurant and is a member of Somos Un Pueblo Unido's worker center. "Tipped employees like me work just as hard to keep this industry afloat and for too long have had to make due with less. With an increase in the minimum wage, we will finally be able to give our families stability and a chance at better life."

"An increase in the state minimum wage cannot come soon enough," said Jose Loredo, 63 year-old resident of Gallup who works at two fast food restaurants and is a founding member of Somos Gallup, Somos Un Pueblo Unido's membership team in McKinley County. "For nearly 20 years, I have had to work two full time jobs in order to make a living and support my family. With an increase in the minimum wage, I can finally save enough money to pay off my car and most importantly only have to work one full time job."

"Workers in New Mexico deserve and need to be paid just wages for their hard work and contributions to New Mexico's economy," said Marian Méndez-Cera a community organizer for El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos. "The current minimum wage of $7.50 is not enough to provide hard working families with a good quality of life. Working families in New Mexico struggle to pay for their bare necessities and even have to work two or more jobs to make ends meet. With today's vote we are one day closer to giving our families a chance of gaining financial stability. It's time both minimum wage workers, including tipped workers, can earn a raise that will help all New Mexico families have a brighter future in our state."

"We are excited that raising the minimum wage in New Mexico is one step closer to becoming a reality after 10 years of delay. With the state house passing this raise with a strong majority and including tipped workers they are sending an important message that working families matter. We now encourage NM Senators to vote in favor of HB 31. It's time." said JD Mathews, of NM Working Families.

"Everyone who works full time should be able to earn a livable wage, including people who work at restaurants," said Stephanie Welch supervising attorney at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. "By eliminating the lower wage for tipped workers, House Bill 31 raises the incomes of the vast majority of restaurant workers. In the seven states that have removed the lower wage for tipped workers, the restaurant industry has grown and continues to grow and fewer tipped workers live in poverty. The bill does not give businesses a free pass to take tips away from their employees. In fact, it is illegal under federal law for employers to take their employees' tips."

"All hardworking people in our New Mexico, including queer and transgender people, should have the chance to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families," says Adrian N. Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico. "Raising the minimum wage is about helping more New Mexicans have access to opportunity. We applaud the House of Representatives for passing HB 31, sending the statement that, in New Mexico, we value the dignity of work."

"We know that one in five New Mexico children live in households that would benefit from a raise in the minimum wage," said James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children. "When you consider that increasing a parent's pay improves a child's access to nutritious food, their health and their performance at school, you get a sense of how far-reaching this kind of policy is."

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Somos Un Pueblo Unido is a statewide immigrant-led civil and workers' rights organization with membership teams in ten counties and offices in Santa Fe and Roswell.