AFGE denounces Mayor Gray's veto of D.C. living wage bill

Mayor has placed interests of big corporations over working class

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. today strongly denounced D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray's decision to veto legislation that would require the city's largest retailers to pay workers a living wage.

The Large Retailer Accountability Act would require D.C. stores measuring at least 7,500 square feet whose parent companies earn $1 billion or more in annual profits to pay employees at least $12.50 per hour in combined wages and benefits. The D.C. Council approved the bill last month.

"Mayor Gray's decision to veto the living wage bill is wrong morally, economically and politically," Cox said.

"Allowing Wal-Mart to pay wages that are so low that workers are unable to support themselves and their families is reprehensible. By vetoing this legislation, Mayor Gray has placed the interests of big corporations over the wellbeing of the citizens he was elected to serve."

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

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SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees

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