A coalition of groups is backing a referendum petition to raise the minimum wage in South Dakota. The proposal calls for a raise from $7.25 to $8.50 per hour with annual cost of living increases.
Zach Crago is with the South Dakota Democratic Party. He is among those organizing the petition drive. Crago says South Dakotans have a fantastic work ethic, but one 40-hour-a-week job at minimum wage won’t pay the bills.
“The price of living, the price of food housing and gas is going up year after year and wages have stagnated. And that’s at the same time that the pay of the wealthy in this country has skyrocketed. So raising the minimum wage is how you build an economy that works for everyone. And that’s why we want to put this on the ballot in 2014,” says Crago.
Supporters say South Dakota’s low wages mean the state can’t compete with its neighbors when it comes to recruiting workers. Those who oppose the idea say raising the minimum wage will hurt job creation.
The petition organizers have an aggressive schedule; to land the issue on the 2014 ballot, they need to gather close to 16,000 signatures by November 4th of this year.