About 50 union and community activists protested Tuesday outside the Kluczynski Federal Building in support of a $1.50 increase in the minimum wage.
Representatives from ACORN, a community organization of low- and moderate-income families, and home-care workers from the Service Employees International Union said they hope to persuade Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill) to support the pending legislation.
Denise Dixon, president of ACORN’s Illinois chapter, said the proposed $1.50 increase in the minimum wage of $5.15 would mean $3,000 in additional income for a person working 40 hours a week.
Mary Henry, 55, of Markham, said the proposed wage increase would ease her financial burden. Henry makes $6.06 an hour as a home health-care worker, forcing her to buy day-old bread and to worry about paying her home heating costs. “It was a struggle with the gas bill this winter,” she said.
According to Cindy Boland, Illinois campaign coordinator for ACORN, the organizations targeted Fitzgerald because they felt he would be amenable.
“Sen. Fitzgerald will take a look at the legislation when it hits the Senate floor,” said Fitzgerald spokesman Brian Stoller.
