City of Duluth Passes Resolution Supporting Minimum Wage Increase

DULUTH - Duluth city councilors are speaking out in support of raising Minnesota’s minimum wage to $9.50 an hour.

"When we raise people up our community is going to do better,” said Duluth City Councilor Sharla Gardner. “It's going to be a huge economic boom to our community to do this.”

Monday, the City of Duluth became the first to pass a resolution in support of raising the minimum wage to $9.50.

Low wages have effected many community members like Duluth City Councilor Jen Julsrud.

She worked a minimum wage job through college to pay for her education.

"I remember the months when an unexpected car payment would make itself due, and a transmission that needed to be replaced,” she said. “I can only imagine what families face that are trying to live and support their children on minimum wage."

It’s also affected a man attempting to push past his criminal record, now struggling to survive.

"At $640 a month, it's extremely hard to get housing and get food,” said Larry Allen, an employee at Days Inn in Duluth who gets by with only 25 hours a week.

“I'm definitely a product of the struggle when it comes to trying to live off a little,” Allen explained.

Duluth City Councilor Sharla Gardner is spearheading the Raise the Wage collation through the city government.

"People who work full time should be able to pay their bills, they should be able to make a living,” she said. “They shouldn't have to be living in fear that they're going to make rent, or their house payment."

In a presentation by city council representatives Monday, they said a $2.25 raise would help nearly 8,923 people working minimum wage and give Duluth’s economy a $12.6 million boost.

“I think $9.50 is very fair,” said Gary Houdek, owner of Jitters Coffee House. “It is a challenge to small business people like myself.”

Houdek said if the economic boom works out he’s planning to increase prices to offset the cost of paying his employees.

Jitters employees get paid above minimum wage, but Houdek does take tips into consideration when deciding what to pay his workers.

Passing the resolution does not mean Duluth's minimum wage is raised up to $9.50.

It only means city councilors and the mayor are supportive in raising the wage.

The City of Duluth hopes this move will encourage other cities to do the same in support of raising the wage.