For Immediate Release: April 27, 2021

Contact: Mark Brueggenjohann  202-728-6014

 IBEW President: ‘Federal Workers Deserve a Living Wage’

IBEW International President Lonnie R. Stephenson issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s executive order raising the minimum wage for federal contractors:

“Taxpayer money should be used to support living wage jobs, and that’s why I applaud President Biden’s executive order requiring federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage.

This order will boost wages for hundreds of thousands of workers across the country, and that isn’t just good news for affected workers but for the communities they live in. A higher minimum wage means more money going to local businesses, encouraging further job creation.

This order will also push competitors to raise wages, creating a race to the top scenario where workers will be the winners.

For too long, the federal minimum wage had stagnated as the cost of living kept going up. President Biden’s decision is an essential first step in raising the minimum wage for all workers.”

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The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents approximately 775,000 members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.