Brothers and Sisters,
How is everyone’s summer going?
If you are one of the many people who has suffered losses this year or is still affected by surging Covid numbers and the Delta variant, our prayers go out to you.
We also wanted to get in touch because we know many of you have questions regarding the implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order mandating that Federal Contract workers are paid $15 or higher. We also share your frustration with the fact that new hires and others working on site are making more than those working from home. We all deserve a living wage!
Right now Biden’s Executive Order states that the $15 minimum wage must go into effect at the contract renewal or extension date. CMS has already publicly stated that it expects the $15 EO to apply to the rebid CCO contract – the one most of us are working on. We don’t know exactly when that is as the process for rebidding the CCO contract is still underway. The most likely scenario is that it will apply to the CCO contract at the end of its current option year—May 31, 2022 and be mandated to go into effect in June.
This past week, the Department of Labor also issued some further guidelines on how this EO is to be implemented by Federal Contractors. There’s a public comment period on those guidelines open until Aug. 23. Now because we have maintained pressure on the administration, the DOL will continue to index the federal contract minimum wage in future years to an inflation measure. This means that the $15 minimum will be automatically increased a little bit each year, beginning in 2023!
That all being said, we know that Maximus could raise our wages at any time! They’ve done so already for those of us working on site – giving many $3 additional in hourly pay, which we all deserve! That’s why we’re talking a stand today and demanding the higher wages we ALL are owed. Maximus does not need to wait until next year to start and keep paying us $15 or higher. We need that money to pay bills and feed our families now!
If you think we should all make a living wage, use this tool to change your facebook profile pic: https://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=964226987478180
Let’s show Maximus that we are united in our efforts to win the pay we all deserve!
Organizing Committee members will also be handing out car hangers (click to take a look!) that we encourage folks to put up in their rearview mirrors or anywhere else visible to others! If you want one or even a few to pass around to coworkers and aren’t in touch with your local organizing committee, let us know and we will mail you some.
In solidarity and strength,
Annie Pelfrey, Winchester, KY
Malaya Harries, Winchester, KY
Clinton Sams, London, KY
Sylvia Walker, Bogalusa, LA
Shaliza Menuel, Bogalusa, LA
Tonya Jackson, Hattiesburg, MS
Lanycha Hall, Hattiesburg, MS