Obama signs executive order raising minimum wage for federal contract workers
President Obama signed an executive order raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for U.S government contract workers.
In his State of the Union address, the president mentioned his push for a higher minimum wage for federal contract workers, and the move fulfills his promise.
The order applies to U.S. contractors such as National Park Service concessions workers and military food-service employees, according to a White House fact sheet. The 39 percent increase from $7.25 an hour takes effect for new contracts starting Jan. 1, 2015.
Obama action comes without the help of Congress, another move he vowed to follow through with during his Jan. 28 State of the Union address. Last year the president pleaded for Congress to raise the nationwide minimum wage. They remain stagnant.
At Wednesday’s signing ceremony at the White House, he urged members of Congress once again to raise the minimum wage for all workers in the U.S. to $10.10 an hour.
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