Op-Ed By Ed Flanagan
Anchorage Daily News, Sep 27, 2024
Let’s start with a little trivia: 10 years ago, one of the most popular ballot measures to ever be on an Alaska statewide ballot passed. What was it? ... The answer: In 2014, the ballot measure to increase Alaska’s minimum wage passed with almost 70% of the vote (69.35%, to be exact).
This year, Alaskans will vote on Ballot Measure 1 in November. It is a renewed effort to gradually increase Alaska’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by July 2027 and allow all Alaska workers to earn paid sick leave, as well as increase worker freedom. Fair wages and benefits make our communities, economy and state stronger. ...
Raising the minimum wage and enabling workers to earn paid sick time will boost consumer spending at local businesses, reduce costly employee turnover, increase productivity, strengthen customer service, improve health and safety, and help businesses and communities thrive. Measure 1 is already supported by more than 120 businesses in the growing Alaska Business for Better Jobs coalition, including a wide range of small businesses around the state, the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.Women’s Chamber of Commerce. ...
Ed Flanagan, Chair of Yes on 1 for Better Jobs, is a former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor, and also served as chair of the 2014 ballot initiative campaign to raise Alaska’s minimum wage.