Iowa Latino civil rights group supports proposal to raise minimum wage

Filed under "Press Releases"
View Attached PDF »
More articles »


For immediate release

Jan. 2, 2014

DES MOINES – The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa has announced the civil rights organization supports Iowa Sen. Jack Hatch’s proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage.

Hatch, who represents Des Moines, this week said he would seek to raise the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Currently, the state’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

“Many Latinos work minimum wage jobs – some even multiple jobs – and this increase would give them a chance to better provide for their families, and improve their economic situation and livelihood,” said Joe Enriquez Henry, the state director of Iowa LULAC.

One in five Latinos earns minimum wage, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationally, twenty-three percent live in poverty. That number is even higher in Iowa: Almost 33 percent of the state’s Latino population lived in poverty in 2011, according to the State Data Center of Iowa.

Founded in 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens is the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. There are more than 880 local LULAC councils, which hold voter registration drives, provide awareness to residents about language and immigration issues, sponsor programs and advocate for Latinos.

For more information, contact Joe Enriquez Henry at 515.208.7312; or Melissa Walker at 515.681.7731 or media@iowalatinos.org, or visit www.lulaciowa.org.

 

###

 

                                               

 

 

                         

Leave Your Comments

We welcome your comments. Please leave your ideas and opinions below.

Create your own avatar photo with Gravatar's free service.


(will not be displayed on the site)

(http://www.yoursite.com/)

NEWS

MEDIA
Iowa Web design & development by Visionary Services