Colorado

Minimum wage fears negated

By Eric Gorski
Denver Post, Oct 4 2006

Economists from six states that have increased the minimum wage say the boost has had little impact on prices and ha

Rocky uncritically reported conservative position that minimum-wage increase would cause job loss

By C.H.
Colorado Media Matters, Oct 2 2006

Summary: Reporting on a debate over a ballot issue to increase Colorado's minimum wage, the Rocky Mountain News uncritically repeated the conservative view that raising the minimum wage would mean "jobs for the least-skilled workers will be lost, which would likely force those workers onto welfare." The article did not point out that hundreds of economists support raising the current minimum wage and that several studies contradict the claim that an increase would cause significant job loss.

Let Justice Roll mobilizes values voters with hundreds of minimum wage events across U.S.

Sep 27 2006

OCTOBER "LIVING WAGE DAYS" Build Momentum For Ballot Measures in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana and Ohio

New York City -- As Congress continues to stall on raising the minimum wage, the national Let Justice Roll Campaign will hold hundreds of rallies, workshops, religious services and prayer breakfasts in October to build support for raising the minimum wage at the state and federal level.

Minimum-wage proposal most popular ballot item

By David Milstead
Rocky Mountain News, Sep 20 2006

A proposal to increase the minimum wage in Colorado and embed future increases in the state constitution is the most popular item on the ballot at this point in the campaign.

Of likely voters quizzed in a Rocky Mountain News/CBS 4 poll, 74 percent said they will "definitely" or "probably" support Amendment 42. The "definitely" camp includes 52 percent of voters.

Just 20 percent of voters are on the no side, with 13 percent of respondents saying they "definitely" will vote against the measure.

The wage conundrum Should the minimum be raised? Topic is hot in Colo., other states

By Beth Potter
Denver Post, Aug 5 2006

The minimum-wage debate is heating up here and across the country, fueled by stagnant wages and labor- backed efforts to draw voters to the polls in a midterm election year.

A ballot initiative here proposes to raise the minimum wage in Colorado from $5.15 to $6.85, with adjustments for inflation in future years.

To understand what's at stake, consider Colorado's food-service industry, which employs 176,000 workers and accounts for more than $7 billion in sales.

Higher minimum wage sought

By Rosa Ramirez
Rocky Mountain News, Aug 4 2006

Petition drive hopes to obtain $1.70 hike for jobs in Colorado

Pearl Adams said her current minimum-wage job providing home care to the elderly barely allows her to pay for food and rent.

"Many nights I had to starve so I can give my husband something to eat," Adams said of her 78-year-old husband.

Adams, along with 100 members and supporters of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, delivered to the secretary of state 130,017 voter signatures in a bid to raise the minimum wage in Colorado to $6.85 from $5.15.

Chilean workers file lawsuit, say Dickinson family exploited them

By Brandon Johannson
Craig Daily Press, Jun 6 2006

The owners of a massive cattle ranch in northwest Moffat County forced Chilean guest workers to work despite serious injuries and withheld workers' pay, a civil suit filed last week alleges.

Five Chilean workers filed suit in Denver last week against Vermillion Ranch Limited Partnership and its partners, six members of the Wright and Pauline Dickinson family.

Voters could face question on wages

By Stuart Steers
Rocky Mountain News, Jan 10 2006

Unions may launch ballot effort to raise minimum-pay level

Colorado voters may be asked in the fall if they want to raise the state's minimum wage, which has been stuck at $5.15 for the past eight years.

The Colorado AFL-CIO, the umbrella group for many of the state's labor unions, has begun planning a ballot initiative to boost the state minimum wage. No level has been set, but organizers say they won't go over $7 an hour.