Demands: 1.) We want a $25 minimum wage for all workers in Prince George's County and throughout Maryland.
2.) We believe wages should automatically go up for all workers as the expenses to live increases-- housing, food, gas and child care go up.
3.) We believe that all workers should be able to afford all their basic expenses while working a maximum of 40 hours a week.

In 2023, Maryland's minimum wage is a mere $13.25. Currently, there are talks of increasing the minimum wage to $15, which is still woefully inadequate for workers to cover basic expenses in Maryland. For several years, many Maryland essential workers in food service, transportation, hospitality, child care, elder care, and education have experienced economic strain while living in Maryland. It is difficult for many workers to live fully because they are being underpaid for their labor. In Prince George's County, numerous workers are struggling to afford essential things such as housing, food, gas, child care, and health care after working a 40-hour workweek. The cost of living in Prince George's County is rising faster than the wages of too many essential workers. This reality forces many workers to take a second or third job to cover basic expenses. This fact has led to excessive frustration, stress, and anxiety for many working families in Maryland. We demand that the minimum wage increase as the cost of living increases for all workers. We need a minimum wage of about $25 now.
We believe that all workers should earn a livable wage while working a maximum of 40 hours a week. This change will help give workers the dignity and respect they deserve. This change will give parents and guardians more time to emotionally bond with their families. Parents and guardians will have more time to help their children excel in school and extend their learning outside of school. Individuals will have more time to care for their physical and mental health. As expenses rise in society, the pay of workers should automatically rise to ensure that their lives are not excessively centered on work. If things remain how they are, essential workers in Prince George's County and throughout Maryland will continue to feel frustrated, anxious, and devalued.

We desperately need a minimum wage that reflects the current cost of living in Prince George's County and Maryland. We believe that working 40 hours per week should be enough for all workers to meet their basic needs in Prince George's County and Maryland. We need to increase wages. There are too many people struggling because they are paid inadequately. Decreasing poverty will help decrease social problems such as crime and poor educational performance in schools. Decreasing poverty will help improve the physical and mental health of individuals and communities in Maryland.