January 12, 2017      5:20 PM

Democrats renew push for higher minimum wage in Texas

Rep. Thompson, who passed the state’s last minimum wage law, described it as so outdated that it’s “Stone Age”

Ruben Alvarado, a fast food worker in Austin, hasn’t always made minimum wage. But when Alvarado fell on hard times, he took the first job he got: working at a Popeyes for minimum wage.

“My eyes were kind of woken up when I had to take a minimum wage job,” said Alvarado, who’s now advocating for higher minimum wage. “And I don’t have any kids. It’s just me by myself. A single guy, and I struggle paying the bills. I’m working with people who have like eight children and stuff.”

Lawmakers gathered Thursday afternoon at a press conference hosted by Texas AFL-CIO to discuss increases to the state’s minimum wage for employees. There are already several proposals filed this session to increase the minimum wage, which is currently set at the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour.

By Eleanor Dearman

Copyright January 12, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved