Shoppers, business owners encouraged to submit suggestions for shopping list at RaisetheWageIowa.com
A statewide coalition of small businesses, community leaders, labor and faith organizations will launch ‘Raise the Wage Wednesday’ to encourage Iowans to do their holiday shopping at locally owned businesses that support raising the minimum wage. Events kicking off the holiday shopping season and ‘Raise the Wage Wednesday’ will take place in Waterloo, Ames, and Des Moines on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Shoppers and business owners are encouraged to visit RaisetheWageIowa.com to share suggestions about which businesses should be included on the ‘Raise the Wage Wednesday’ shopping list. An updated version of the list will be released each week on Wednesday at 10:10 a.m., with the final shopping list coming on Christmas Eve, just in time for last minute gift purchases.
“As we buy gifts for friends and family this year, we should support local businesses who support workers,” said Sue Dinsdale, Executive Director of Iowa Citizen Action Network. “Raise the Wage Wednesday will give Iowans the resources they need to find businesses in their community who favor raising the minimum wage this holiday season. We hope every shopper in Iowa will take the time to learn about the businesses they support, and visit raisethewageiowa.com to suggest their favorite local businesses for our shopping list.”
Event details (all events open to the public and press):
AMES: Wednesday, November 26th, 10:10 AM
Skunk River Cycles
308 Main Street, Ames, Iowa
Ronn Ritz, owner
Press Contact: Sue Dinsdale, Iowa Citizen Action Network, (515) 480-3240
DES MOINES: Wednesday, November 26th, 10:10 AM
RAYGUN
400 E. Locust, Des Moines, Iowa
Mike Draper, owner
Press Contact: Matt Sinovic, Progress Iowa, (515) 423-0530
WATERLOO: Tuesday, November 25th, 5:30 PM
The Plaid Peacock
316 W.3rd St, Waterloo, Iowa
Jessica Young-Struck and Heidi Hoff-Morrissey, owners
Press Contact: Chris Schwartz, Americans for Democratic Action Iowa, (319) 429-0133
The Raise the Wage Iowa coalition has organized events across the state, educating the public and supporting an increase in the minimum wage at the state and federal level. Research indicates that several hundred million dollars would be injected into the Iowa economy if the minimum wage is raised, and the government would save money because there would be a reduction in the number of Iowans who qualify for food stamps. Scientific surveys conducted by the Des Moines Register and Quinnipiac University show Iowans support raising the minimum wage by more than 65%.
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS in RAISE THE WAGE IOWA:
AFSCME Iowa Council 61
American Friends Service Committee
Americans for Democratic Action
Des Moines Education Association
Food & Water Watch
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund
Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund
Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Iowa Community Action Association
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL/CIO
Iowa Main Street Alliance
Iowa State Education Association
Methodist Federation for Social Action, Iowa Chapter
Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa
Progress Iowa
RESULTS
SEIU Iowa – Local 199
South Central Federation of Labor, AFL/CIO
Working Families Win
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