WHEREAS, The federal minimum wage has not been increased for eight years and that has been too long for many of our state's struggling workers; and

WHEREAS, When the minimum wage was established more than 60 years ago, it was done so with the idea that people who work hard deserve a decent living. In every community in Michigan, workers put in long hard hours and deserve a fair living wage to support their families and make ends meet; and

WHEREAS, Raising the minimum wage by two dollars per hour would directly benefit at least 464 thousand Michigan workers or nearly 1 in 6 hourly workers statewide, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly magazine; and

WHEREAS, Forty percent of minimum wage workers are the sole breadwinners for their families. In today's economy, hard working men and women in our state are struggling to make ends meet because their earnings have failed to keep up with inflation; and

WHEREAS, A full-time; year- round worker earning the minimum wage earns just $10,712 annually--$5,000 less than the federal poverty level for a family of three; and

WHEREAS, Employment GREW more quickly in states with higher minimum wages than in states at the lower federal minimum wage; and

WHEREAS, Fifteen states already have established a minimum wage higher than the federal level, including Illinois, Florida, New York and Maine; NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED: That the Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel support and actively work to pass legislation raising the State of Michigan's minimum wage by at least two dollars per hour in increments over a two- year period; and BE IT FINALLY

RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be sent to our Michigan State Legislators and Michigan Congressional Representatives.