At the Capitol in Madison on Wednesday, there was a public push for a “living wage” in Wisconsin. A coalition of worker groups is employing an obscure state statute, trying to force Governor Scott Walker’s hand on the minimum wage issue.
“We are filing an official complaint, under Chapter 104 of the Wisconsin state statutes, calling on the governor and the Department of Workforce Development to follow the law, and raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage to a living wage,” announced Peter Rickman, a community organizer with Wisconsin Jobs Now.
The groups held a press conference on Wednesday in the state Assembly parlor.
Robert Kraig with Citizen Action said the Walker administration now has 20 days to respond. “They have to decide whether not there is a . . . decent case that wages are too low, that $7.25 is not a livable wage. Or they could determine its enough. Or they could try not to follow the law,” Kraig said
The groups insist the action has nothing to do with the approaching election for governor. Spokespersons for Governor Walker and the Department of Workforce Development said DWD will review the complaint to determine the appropriate next steps.