Expressing his support for President Obama’s minimum wage hike initiative, New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon has signed an executive order to raise the minimum wage for County employees to $10.10.
“Income and wealth inequality in the United States are at levels unseen since the era which immediately preceded the great depression. While corporate profits, worker productivity, and the S&P 500 are at all-time highs, wages have stagnated,” said County Executive Gordon. “These factors have contributed to one of the most lopsided economic recoveries in US history.”
The Executive is scheduled to hold a ceremonial signing at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in his Wilmington office on the Eighth Floor of the City/County Building, 800 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.
Former Wall St. Banker and current New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer David Grimaldi said that “If the minimum wage of 1968 kept pace with inflation it would be $10.10 today. Had the minimum wage mirrored the increase in US worker productivity, however, it would have reached $21.72 per hour in 2012.”
Council President Bullock, President Pro Tem Hollins, and Councilmen Smiley and Street are in support of the initiative. Council President Bullock said “Perhaps one of the greatest challenges facing our Nation is the relatively new concept of the ‘working poor’ - those who have jobs but don’t make enough to support their families. I am in full support of this initiative.”
"Hardworking citizens deserve to earn a livable wage; I applaud the County Executive's bold leadership," said President Pro Tem Hollins. Councilman Smiley added that he is “glad that the County Executive is thoughtful of employees at all levels of the pay scale; this is long overdue.” Councilman Street said that he “Commends the County Executive for his leadership,” and that “This sends an important message to the business community. People should need to be paid a living wage in exchange for their hard work.”
County Executive Gordon’s order will raise the minimum hourly wage to $10.10 for all but four County positions, which will require Council action to amend. Until such action is taken, those positions will be raised to $9 per hour, the top of the current pay scale. The changes will go into effect July 1, 2014.
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