Case Study
In Missouri, Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative and it’s partners, ballot initiative advocacy improved wages and working conditions for workers
The Challenge
In many states, workers earning minimum wage are simply not paid enough to lift themselves out of poverty and make ends meet for their families. That leads to chronic stress, adverse health conditions, and an ongoing cycle that can trap families and communities without the resources they need to thrive.
Until recently, a full-time minimum wage worker in Missouri earned less than $500 per week. Since the state lacked a law mandating paid sick leave for workers, many people were forced to choose between protecting their health and the health of their families, or paying for groceries, housing, and utilities.
The Approach
To improve working conditions and quality of life for Missouri workers, the Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative worked with its partners, including Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages, to encourage voters to pass a new ballot measure in 2024 to guarantee paid sick leave for Missouri workers while raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026.
“The fight for fair wages and worker power is alive and well in Missouri. The passage of this measure marks a major victory that will release some of the everyday pressure working Missourians face to make ends meet.”
– Jessica Podhola, Executive Director of the Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative
Missouri advocates and supporters rally ourside a local UAW in support of Proposition A.
Our Impact
The measure received nearly 60 percent support statewide The new law will allow working parents to take time off to take care of themselves and their children while boosting income for hundreds of thousands of workers across the state.
Conclusion
The successful passage of the ballot measure in Missouri, guaranteeing paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026, marks a significant victory for working families across the state. This achievement is a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of prioritizing workers’ rights and well-being.
A group photo of Missouri advocates and organizers holding various signs in support of fair wages and the end of Missouri’s abortion ban.
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