Joe Dunn Backs California’s Fair Wage Act, Calls for Increase in National Minimum Wage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 18, 2016

CONTACT:
Douglas Herman
The Strategy Group
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Joe Dunn Backs California’s Fair Wage Act, Calls for Increase in National Minimum Wage

Santa Ana, Calif. –  Joe Dunn, candidate for California’s 46th Congressional District, announced his support today for the Fair Wage Act of 2016 and the Raise California’s Wage & Paid Sick Days Act of 2016.

“The middle class and particularly the working poor have largely been left out of the economic recovery. I support the statewide ballot measures to gradually get California workers to at least $15 per hour. Small and large cities throughout the state are already taking action to move toward $15. It makes sense to uniformly apply it so every worker in California earns a more fair minimum wage,” said Joe Dunn.

He added, “Most Americans, unfortunately, have not seen an increase in the minimum wage since 2009 when it was set to the current rate of $7.25 an hour. It’s been estimated that raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour would benefit at least 25 million Americans and generate about $32 billion in economic activity nationally. In Congress, I’ll fight for an immediate increase in the minimum wage to at least $10 — we can build consensus for that, and a path to $15 an hour.”

“I’m grateful Joe Dunn is stepping up on behalf of the 400,000 workers in Orange County who would benefit from the Fair Wage Act,” said Mitch Marsile, a resident of Santa Ana and member of SEIU-UHW. “We all know how expensive it is to live in Orange County, and this is one way to improve the lives of our hardworking neighbors and to boost the economy at the same time.”

Joe has the strongest record of any candidate in the CD 46 race in standing with workers to win fair wages and safer working conditions. He is currently working with the University of California at Irvine to permanently fund a labor center that would give workers a stronger voice in our local economy.

Joe Dunn has thirty years of experience standing up to the establishment, and holding big corporations and government bureaucracies accountable to Orange County’s middle-class families. He’s empowered communities through the legal system to stop polluters and fought price-gouging drug companies. He investigated Enron and other unethical energy companies manipulating prices. He took on oil companies ripping off consumers at the gas pump and stood up to gun manufacturers to make our neighborhoods safer.

Joe fought to secure millions of dollars from tobacco companies to be used for local health care services and community clinics. While heading the California Medical Association, Joe worked with physicians to help broaden access to affordable health care for Californians.

Joe lives with his wife, Diane, in their Santa Ana home of nearly twenty years. They have two adult children, Sarah and John. California’s 46th congressional district includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, and Santa Ana.

The Fair Wage Act of 2016 would raise California’s minimum wage to $11 in 2017 and then gradually increase it a dollar a year until it reaches $15 in 2021. Once the minimum wage reaches $15, it will automatically be adjusted each year to keep pace with the cost of living. 

The Raise California’s Wage and Paid Sick Days Act of 2016 would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2020 and guarantee that every full-time worker will receive at least 6 days per year to care for themselves and their families. Small businesses would have until 2021 to meet the $15 per hour minimum.