Union Rallys For Higher Minimum Wage: MONTGOMERY, Ala.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18041420/

WVTM-TV

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Groups representing the poor and union workers rallied on the Statehouse steps today in support of legislation that would raise the minimum wage in Alabama to $7.25 an hour over the next two years.

The legislation's sponsor, state Representative Patricia Todd, said Congress hasn't raised the national minimum wage of $5.15 an hour in a decade.

She said it's time for the Alabama Legislature to give working people a raise.

About 50 people attended the rally in Montgomery many of them union members who earn far above the minimum wage.
Stewart Burkhalter, who's president of the Alabama AFL-CIO, said his members showed up to support people on the bottom of the pay scale.

Todd's bill is scheduled for consideration tomorrow by the House Commerce Committee.
The freshman lawmaker urged about 50 supporters at the rally to call legislators about the bill, but Burkhalter said later it will be an uphill fight.

Research by the Economic Policy Institute in Washington estimates that 126,000 Alabama workers, or more than six percent of the state's work force, make less than $7.25 per hour.

FULL story at link.

Until we have high tariffs against goods and services from tiny-wage companies, our middle class is doomed. A higher minimum wage simply will cause faster offshoring.

(Isn't it amazing that most Americans don't care that many or most "Democratic" candidates for President used to be big supporters of 'free' trade? Incredible.)