NY DUer's - Bruno's Iron Fist

[sangh0]

To: “$5.15 is Not Enough” Campaign Supporters
From: Eva Bonime, Working Families Party
Re: Minimum Wage Weekly Update

In this update:

I. A great editorial
II. Last week’s events
III. What you can do this week
IV. Call for employers

I. In case you missed the great editorial in Saturday’s Daily News, here it is. Majority Leader Bruno says he is waiting for the federal government to raise the minimum wage, but the editorial board rightly points out that this is just a dodge. “He might as well wait for the United Nations to decree such an increase or for an angel to descend from heaven with trumpets blaring.”

The full story (it’s really worth your time) is at http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/179985p-156429c.html (scroll down – it’s below another editorial)

II. If you have been reading the Daily News, you may have been confused when you read Friday’s article entitled “GOP Kills Wage Hike.” (Similar articles ran in the Syracuse Post-Standard and the Albany Times-Union). Hopefully you kept reading on Saturday and saw that our bill is very much alive.

The vote on Thursday was just a procedural motion to test whether the Republican sponsors were serious enough to break ranks with Bruno. The Republican Senators flunked this test, but it was not their only opportunity to vote on the bill. We’re confident that if we keep up the pressure, the Senate will get its act together and bring this bill to the floor.

In other news from last week, the Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition was joined by the Mid-State Central Labor Council and many other supporters at a rally in Ithaca on Saturday. It was covered by at least 4 media outlets. We’re hoping that Senators Seward, Nozzolio, and Kuhl will soon get the message that $5.15 Is Not Enough. Congrats to all involved in putting on such a successful event.

III. Here’s what you can do this week:

1. SIGN UP FOR APRIL 17TH MOBILIZATION. We need even more volunteers to join us as we build community pressure on Senators. Email me if you are available from 10:00 to 1:00 that Saturday in Long Island, NYC, Westchester, or Rochester.

2. FAX YOUR SENATOR. Go to our website, www.515isnotenough.org and on the “Get Involved” page you can download a quick letter and your Senator’s fax number.

3. SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF YOUR LOCAL PAPER. A quick way to get some press coverage your Senator is very likely to see. Sample letters and email addresses of newspapers are also in the “Get Involved” section of the website (www.515isnotenough.org).

4. MENTION THE CAMPAIGN IN YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NEWSLETTER. We’ll send you sample text if you need it, or you can get some ideas from the website.

IV. Lastly, we are looking for employers and business owners who can add their names to the growing list of employers who support raising the minimum wage. Treating workers well is good for business, and over the next few weeks we’ll be working to get that message out. Email me if you are an employer.

That’s it for now. Thanks!