Carbondale, Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, East St. Louis Among Stops

MEDIA ADVISORY: April 19, 20
SPRINGFIELD-As House Bill 198 goes to vote in the full House of Representatives, a statewide press tour will highlight the benefits of a raise in the minimum wage to $15 using new analysis and featuring the legislation’s sponsor, Rep. Will Guzzardi.
Over Wednesday and Thursday this week, the tour will visit Champaign, Peoria, Carbondale, East St. Louis and Springfield (times and locations below).
More than 40 percent of the Illinois workforce earns less than $15 per hour, leading to chronic poverty and costing taxpayers because of the required public assistance. The new analysis shows that a raise in the wage floor would generate billions of dollars in new revenue and help ease the ongoing budget crisis.
“”We need to fix our economy by improving the quality of life of working people, not padding the bottom lines of huge corporations,” Guzzardi said. “House Bill 198 will help lift millions of hard-working people out of poverty and kickstart growth in our state.”
Paul Sonn, program director of the National Employment Law Project, who contributed to the new analysis, said:
“From Carbondale to Champaign, from East St. Louis to Rockford, across Illinois large percentages of each community’s workforce make wages where it is impossible to make ends meet. A phased-in raise to $15 by 2022 would benefit the health and well-being of the very towns and cities that grow the Illinois economy, give these workers a shot at entering the middle class and relieve the tax burden of communities who are subsidizing low-wage employers.
Said Rep. Carol Ammons, who will participate in the Champaign event on Wednesday, April 19, in Champaign:

“Raising the minimum wage isn’t just a Chicago issue or a fast-food issue. It’s an Illinois issue and it’s vital to every part of our state.”

Said Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, CEO of Earth Friendly Products in Addison:

“Having manufactured in Illinois for 50 years, we know that raising the minimum wage to $15 will help businesses and employees thrive. Paying a living wage has improved our bottom line: our voluntary turnover rate is extremely low, our productivity has increased, and our profits continue to grow.”

Said Robert Olson, Owner of Olson & Associates in Springfield, Washington And Lombard:

“Raising the minimum wage is a kind of insurance for both businesses and workers. It will enable workers to make ends meet and it will boost the consumer spending that drives business and strengthens the economy.”

 
$15 FOR ILLINOIS’ FUTURE MINIMUM WAGE RAISE TOUR
 
PEORIA
 
WHAT: $15 Minimum Wage State Tour
WHEN: Wednesday, April 19, 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Labor Temple, 400 NE Jefferson St., Peoria
WHO: Rep. Will Guzzardi, workers
 
CHAMPAIGN
 
WHAT: $15 Minimum Wage State Tour
WHEN: Wednesday, April 19, 4 p.m.
WHERE: Office of Rep. Carol Ammons, 407. E. University Ave., Suite A, Champaign
WHO. Reps. Carol Ammons, Will Guzzardi, workers
 
CARBONDALE
 
WHAT: $15 Minimum Wage State Tour
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Township Hall, 216 E. Monroe St., Carbondale
WHO: Rep. Will Guzzardi, workers
 
EAST ST. LOUIS
 
WHAT: $15 Minimum Wage State Tour
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: East St. Louis Public Library, 5300 State St., East St. Louis
WHO: Reps. LaToya Greenwood, Will Guzzardi, workers
 
SPRINGFIELD
 
WHAT; $15 Minimum Wage State Tour
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, 5 p.m.
WHERE: SEIU Healthcare Illinois offices, 701 S. 2nd St., Springfield
WHO: Rep. Will Guzzardi, workers