CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Democratic state lawmakers say West Virginia needs to raise the minimum wage.
During a Tuesday press conference at the state Capitol, House and Senate Democrats renewed their push to approve legislation this session that would increase wages, given the rise in inflation.
One of those bills includes SB 428 which would raise West Virginia’s minimum wage to $10.50 beginning on Jan. 1, 2023. The current minimum wage is $8.75.
Senator Hannah Geffert (D-Berkeley), the lead sponsor of the bill, said going to work can be expensive.
“There are transportation costs, gas, repairs, maybe car payments, clothing expenses and child care which could eat up most of a worker’s earnings,” Geffert said.
The bill would require the minimum wage to be annually increased with the rate of inflation
as determined by the consumer price index.
Several other bills would reinstate the prevailing wage for workers on public construction projects, bills to provide pay for personal and family leave when taking care of a sick family member and a bill to ensure equal pay for working women.
Geffert also proposed SB 464 to allow low wage gig workers to recover wages they have earned, but have not yet been paid.
“Each of these bills, if passed, would promote wage fairness,” she said.
Delegate Cody Thompson (D-Randolph) introduced HB 2840 to increase the state’s minimum wage over the next few years.
“It’s a gradual wage increase up to $15 an hour by the year 2025, every year a little bit more, to put more money back into working families’ pockets,” he said.
Democrats also mentioned their continued support for Gov. Jim Justice’s proposed five percent pay raise for all state workers.
Thompson said West Virginia’s older population needs to be compensated as well.
“Many of our retirees are on fixed incomes and are struggling to make ends meet. Picking between their electric bill and prescriptions every month is not something we should be doing to these people who have given us so much,” he said.
Senator Richard Lindsay (D-Kanawha) said he believes the state should pass a constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage like other neighboring states have done.
“We’re not retreading new ground here,” Lindsay said. “In Ohio, a Republican Legislature and Republican governor passed a constitutional amendment and put it on the ballot to raise their minimum wage and tie it to the consumer price index. That is reasonable policy and I think it’s something we can do here in West Virginia.”
Last month, House and Senate Democrats proposed reducing the state’s sales tax from 6 percent to 4.75 percent.
“West Virginians deserve relief,” Lindsay said.
The 2022 Regular Legislative Session continues through Mar. 12.