Support workers in Boulder County
Boulder Progressives urges Boulder County Board of Commissioners to keep their 2023 plan to raise the minimum wage.
Get involved! Please send a short note to the Boulder County Commissioners by 9AM Thursday to support wages for workers in Boulder County.
Boulder Progressives urges Boulder County Board of Commissioners to keep their 2023 plan to raise the minimum wage.
Two years ago, Boulder County Commissioners led the State by passing an increase to the minimum wage that would rise to $25 per hour by 2030. Their strategic desire was to encourage municipal partners to follow their lead and align their local wage requirements to match the County.
Sadly, other municipalities were not as effective in their efforts to increase the minimum wage. As a result the county now finds itself under attack from those who wish to not only slow progress, but to in fact reverse the modest gains that were made.
We urge the Commissioners not to backtrack or slow their progress by following the decisions of less equity minded local partners.
We respect the efforts the County has made, striving for a community where every resident - including those facing the greatest challenges - can flourish.
Many families are not flourishing; in fact families across our county are struggling just to make the rent, and are finding themselves forced to choose between feeding their families and paying their bills. Even with projected increases, our minimum wage is well below the stated living wage of $26.36 per hour. Working families are living in overcrowded and often substandard housing because of the housing costs in Boulder County.
Boulder County is facing real budget deficits. Services have been cut and staff has been laid off. Yet there remains a sentiment in the community that the County can fix the big problems that others cannot. We implore our county commissioners to not allow these same voices who say that the county isn’t doing enough, to force the county into doing less.
When lobbyists fight to prioritize business profits over the basic wages of employees, it hurts us all. Cuts to minimum wages will only increase the County safety net burden and desperate families will have to rely on County services even when they are working full time. The county’s thoughtful efforts do not need to be watered down, rather it is time to stand strong in the work that has been done, and to demand that cities across Boulder County do the same.
We ask our Boulder County Commissioners to please keep the existing ordinance intact and maintain the current minimum wage schedule. Together we can honor the promise we made to our minimum wage workers and ensure a better tomorrow.
Boulder Progressives Board