Norton Says Final DOL Rule Raising Minimum Wage for Federal Contract Workers to $10.10 Shows Activism Worked

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswomen Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that federal contract workers at federal work sites here and across the nation deserve credit for the issuance yesterday by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez of the final rule to implement the President's Executive Order (EO) raising the minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts to $10.10 per hour. This new minimum wage will apply to new contracts or replacements for expiring contracts that are awarded on or after January 1, 2015.

"As I spoke at contract workers' demonstrations here, my faith was renewed that workers would fight for their rights for a decent wage," said Norton. "The activism of federal contract workers led the President to respond, when Congress has not, by raising the minimum wage for these workers. I believe that the example set by the federal contract workers will signal other Americans that demanding passage of the pending minimum wage bill for all workers can produce results. These workers are already going a step further by demanding that employers that want federal contracts must pay these federal contract workers a livable wage and provide real benefits, like paid vacation and sick leave."

Norton has been a leader in fighting for improved wages for workers employed by federal contractors, speaking at their demonstrations and participating in Change to Win and Good Jobs Nation meetings with workers. In July, just before introducing the Restore Opportunity, Strengthen, and Improve the Economy (ROSIE) Act, Norton spoke at a rally with hundreds of federal contract workers in front of Union Station. The ROSIE Act incentivizes federal government contractors to support workers' collective bargaining, pay living wages and benefits, stop wage theft, and avoid paying CEOs excessive salaries. Norton has called on the President to put the ROSIE Act into an EO. Norton also plans to introduce a bill when the House returns in November that would direct federal agencies to give points in federal contractor competition for businesses paying decent wages and benefits to their entire workforce and that permit their employees to unionize so that wages can become a private matter for bargaining between the contractor and its employees.