DOL News, April 3, 2014
A 10-state bus tour campaign to increase the minimum wage came to a close April 3 in our nation's capital. The bus tour, led by Americans United for Change, highlighted the stories of workers throughout the country who are struggling to put food on the table and buy medicine for their children. U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez joined the April 3 event, where Ruben Jones, a full-time cook at a restaurant, had the crowd in tears when he told his story about how he has two children and four grandchildren, yet lives with his 82-year-old mother and cannot afford basic necessities. Gina Schaefer, owner of nine independent Ace Hardware stores in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, told the crowd that paying employees an honest wage for an honest day's work is good for business. Schaefer attributes the success of her business to the fact that it pays employees above the minimum wage, which leads to better customer service. ...