Minimum Wage:
Issue Organizations
Minimum Wage:Issue Organizations
Organizations Addressing This Issue
A variety of organizations advocate for a higher minimum wage, for example to $15 an hour. Some oppose that kind of increase. Listed below are several major national organizations that support studies and writings on this issue, providing legal and other expertise, testimony before Congress and staff assistance to various states on wage issues. The staffs and websites of these organizations provide a wealth of information and analysis about wage issues and reform proposals on the state and federal levels.
American Enterprise Institute
1789 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 862-5800
aei.org
Director of Economic Policy Studies: Ryan Streeter
Phoebe Keller, Director of Media Relations (202) 420-0155; Phoebe.Keller@aei.org
AEI states that its mission is “to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies, political accountability, and open debate.” While AEI as an institution states that it does not take positions on policies, its scholars and fellows regularly publish analyses on issues of worker pay and the minimum wage.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Postal Square Building,
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20212-0001
(202)-691-5200
bls.gov
William W. Beach, Commissioner,
William J. Wiatrowski Deputy Commissioner
Regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its Commissioner releases monthly labor statistics. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information in an objective, timely, accurate, and relevant manner.
Campaign for America’s Future
1825 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 955-5665
email: contact form
ourfuture.org
Robert L. Borosage Founding Co-Director and President, rlboro@aol.com
Roger Hickey, Founding Co-Director, Hickey@ourfuture.org
Campaign for America’s Future explores, proposes, and promotes new economic ideas to address pressing economic and social problems. It provides news, analysis, action alerts, and resources for progressives on issues such as education, economics, and energy.
Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division
6525 Belcrest Rd, Hyattsville, MD 20782
1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243)
dol.gov/whd
Administrator,
Jessica Looman, First Deputy Administrator
For general questions about payroll issues: (1-866-487-2365)
The Wage and Hour mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the Nation’s workforce. For current minimum wage laws see this website.
Economic Policy Institute (EPI)
1225 I Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
epi@epi.org
(202) 775-8810
epi.org
President, Thea Lee
Research Director, Josh Bivens
Communications Director, Eve Tahmincioglu
EPI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank created in 1986 to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions. To achieve this goal, EPI conducts research and analysis on the economic status of working America and proposes public policies that protect and improve the economic conditions of low- and middle-income workers and assesses policies with respect to how they affect those workers.
FairShare
218 D St SE #205
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 461-2472 & (202) 461-3847
info@fairshareonline.org
fairshareonline.org
Office Administrator, Dan Herb
Communications Director, David Elliot
Legislative Director, Sean Garren
Field Organizer, Nick Arent
National Field Director, Meredith Small
Based in: Portland, ME
Field offices in Boston, Denver; Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland (ME)
Through social and economic justice-related campaigns, Fair Share stands for an America where everyone gets their fair share, does their fair share, and pays their fair share; and where everyone plays by the same rules.
Interfaith Worker Justice
1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 728-8400
iwj.org
Kim Bobo, Founder and Executive Director
Martha Ojeda, senior National Field Organizer
Based in Chicago, IL
More than 70 affiliates across the country
Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) advances the rights of workers by engaging diverse faith communities into action, from grassroots organizing to shaping policy at the local, state, and national levels.
Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign
P.O. Box 2441
Little Rock, AR 72203
501-626-9220
letjusticeroll.org
Director, Steve Copley
100 Member Organizations across the country
The nonpartisan Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign is a leading faith, community, labor, and business coalition committed to raising the minimum wage to a living wage at the state and federal level. It educates the public about the link between poverty and wages, and informs people of the severity of conditions facing low-wage working people and what must be done to bring about constructive change.
National Employment Law Project (NELP)
90 Broad Street, Suite 1100
New York, NY 10004
(212) 285-3025
1350 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 2020
Washington, DC 20036
nelp@nelp.org
www.nelp.org
Rebecca Dixon, Executive Director
Heather McGrew, Chief Operating Officer
Monica Novoa, Communications Director
Field offices in Ann Arbor, D.C. Oakland, and Seattle
The National Employment Law Project works to restore the promise of economic opportunity in the 21st-century economy. In partnership with national, state, and local allies, NELP promotes policies and programs that create good jobs, strengthen upward mobility, enforce hard-won worker rights, and help unemployed workers regain their economic footing through improved benefits and services.
National Conference of State Legislatures
444 North Capitol Street N.W., Suite 515
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 624-5400
ncsl.org
President, Speaker Robin Vos (Wisconsin Assembly)
President-elect, Speaker Scott Saiki )Hawaii House)
Staff Chair, Margaret Wiggin (Georgia)
Regional office in Denver, CO
NCSL is committed to the success of all legislators and staff. Our mission is to improving the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures, promoting policy innovation and communication among state legislatures, and ensuring state legislatures are a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system. For current state minimum wage laws see this page on the NCSL website.
New Economy Coalition
89 South Street, Suite 406
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 946-3200
neweconomy.net
Eli Feghall, Director of Communications and Online Organizing
The New Economy Coalition (NEC) is a network of organizations seeking to imagine and build a future where people, communities, and ecosystems thrive. NEC is seeking to create deep change in the economy and politics—placing power in the hands of the people.
Partnership for Working Families
1825 K Street NW Suite 210
Washington, DC 20006
202-263-4543
forworkingfamilies.org
Executive Director, Nikki Fortunato Bas
Civic Engagement Campaign Director, John Goldstein
Seventeen affiliates across the country, including Puget Sound Sage (WA), LAANE (CA), Isaiah (MN), Pittsburgh United (PA), and Georgia Stand-Up (GA)
The Partnership for Working Families is a national network of leading regional advocacy organizations that support innovative solutions to our nation’s economic and environmental problems. Together we are a voice for working families, promoting policies that create quality jobs and thriving, healthy communities. We advance innovative campaigns, provide issue-specific resources and share winning strategies and lessons with allies dedicated to creating a new economy that creates opportunity for all.
Poverty in America/Living Wage Calculator-MIT
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
(617) 253-1000
livingwage.mit.edu
Director, Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier
This accelerated research, data development, and distribution research program provides a new understanding of the manifestation, meaning, and causes of enduring economic distress. The meaning of distress can move from the abstract to the concrete through an empirical examination of the spatial distribution and enduring existence of economic distress. By combining statistical analysis with policy evaluation and historical assessment of previous policy efforts, this project is elevating the issue of community economic distress to a new level.
Raise the Minimum Wage Website (A project of NELP)
75 Maiden Lane, Suite 601
New York, NY 10038
(212) 285-3025
raisetheminimumwage.com
Legal Co-Director, Paul Sonn
Policy Analyst, Jack Temple
Campaign Strategist, Arun Ivatury
Partner field offices across the country
RaiseTheMinimumWage.com is a project of the National Employment Project. With its partners, it provides strategic support, technical assistance, research, materials, and coordination for increased minimum wage campaigns.
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United
350 7th Avenue, Suite 1504
New York, NY 10001
(212) 243-6900
rocunited.org
Co- Founder & Co-Director, Saru Jayaraman
Co-Founder & Co-Director, Fekkak Mamdouh
National Research Director, Teófilo Reyes
National Organizing Director, Lauren Jacobs
Field offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Michigan, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC
The mission of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United is to improve wages and working conditions for the nation’s restaurant workforce.
United for a Fair Economy
1 Milk Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 423-2148
faireconomy.org
Executive Director & Popular Educator, Jeannette Huezo
Director of Communications, Mike Leyba
Education Coordinator, Riahl O’Malley
Director, Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative, Michael Young
“United for a Fair Economy challenges the concentration of wealth and power that corrupts democracy, deepens the racial divide, and tears communities apart. We use popular economics education, training, and creative communications to support social movements working for a resilient, sustainable, and equitable economy.”
YES! Magazine
284 Madrona Way NE, Ste 116,
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-2870
1-800-937-4451
yesmagazine.org
Executive Director, Fran Korten
Editor in Chief, Sarah Van Gelder
Executive Editor, Dean Paton
YES! Magazine reframes the biggest problems of our time in terms of their solutions. Online and in print, it outlines a path forward with in-depth analysis, tools for citizen engagement, and stories about real people working for a better world. See this recent example of their work.
Issue Brief Progress Report Success Story Additional Readings
Hedrick Smith, who conceived this website and is its principal writer and architect, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter and Emmy award-winning documentary producer for PBS and PBS FRONTLINE. 
