Groups push minimum-wage increase

Opponent says initiative has political motivations

Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 26, 2006 at midnight

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Backers of a proposed ballot initiative that would boost the minimum wage in Colorado from $5.15 an hour to $6.85 will begin collecting signatures next week.

One of the organizers, Steve Adams, president of the Colorado AFL-CIO, said the purpose of the initiative is to "help the citizens of Colorado who need the help the most."

Other "progressive" groups also are behind the measure, including Nine to Five, he said.

"It's been years since they've raised the minimum wage," Adams said.

"Have you ever tried living on $5.15 an hour, or even $6.85 an hour at that?"

But one political consultant said the real intent of the initiative - like so many proposed this year - seems to be to turn out a certain voter base, in this case Democrats.

The proposal also would boost the salary of tipped employees from $2.13 an hour to $3.83.

The Colorado Restaurant Association opposes the wage proposal.

President Pete Meersman said Thursday that the measure requires annual increases for inflation and, because it is a constitutional amendment, it can't be changed without another vote of the people.

He said the restaurant board would be more likely to support an increase in minimum wage if it were in statute and didn't include inflationary increases. If it passes, "This is going to be put some restaurants out of business, and you're going to see an immediate increase in prices," Meersman said. Adams dismissed his argument, saying it's the usual doom-and-gloom from businesses about pro-worker proposals.

"They say they'll have to leave Colorado if this passes - you know, the sky is falling," he said.

Colorado's attempt to boost the minimum wage via a vote in November mirrors efforts in at least five other states, including Missouri and Ohio. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 16 states have increased the federal minimum wage, which was set in 1997.

Political consultant Eric Sondermann of Denver likened the minimum-wage proposal to other initiatives, such as anti-abortion measures, which he said are aimed at turning out certain voters.

"Whether it's ultimately successful, color me dubious," he said.

About 3 percent of Colorado's workforce, or 44,000 workers, make minimum wage or less, said Bill Thoennes, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Labor.

Of that number, a portion are teens who are working part-time but are not dependent on their salary and seniors who work part-time but are also receiving retirement benefits, he said.

Minimum wage in Colorado

There has been a minimum wage in Colorado since the first one was established in 1938, but the original wage order applied only to "women and children working in the laundry trades."

$2.50 per hour July 1, 1983, to June 30, 1984

$3.00 per hour July 1, 1984, to Oct. 31, 1996

$4.75 per hour Nov. 1, 1996, to Sept, 30, 1997

$5.15 per hour Oct. 1, 1997, to the present

Source: Colorado Department Of Labor

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