Fort Worth for $20

FORT WORTH FOR $20!

The City of Fort Worth’s fiscal year 2025 budget must include an increase in the minimum hourly wage of city employees to $20!

Background

The City of Fort Worth is considering raising the minimum wage from $15.45 per hour to $20.00 per hour for city employees while putting together the budget for FY2025. The wage increase to $20/hr is being championed by District 6 Fort Worth City Councilmember Dr. Jared Williams. We need all of council to support!

There was an informal report presented during the 05/07 City Council work session by the Human Resources department about employee wages. The informal report made a recommendation that the city supports an increase to only $16.07 per hour. The report states that “the City does not support a higher wage rate at this time nor does HR support a phased approach.”

City Council members will debate the minimum wage increase June 18th during a City Council Budget Work Session. It's time to raise wages in Fort Worth NOW! Our essential city workers deserve an hourly wage increase to at least $20/hr! Below are talking points when speaking to council on raising the minimum wage for city employees.

Talking Points

Many of Fort Worth's employees struggle to make ends meet for themselves and their families due to low wage jobs. Ensuring that city employees earn a higher wage reflects the city’s commitment to its workers!

Fort Worth's cost of living has sharply risen over time, making it difficult for city employees to afford basic necessities on the current minimum wage of $15/hr. Some cannot afford to live in Fort Worth with the current wage rate without having to work multiple jobs. Raising the minimum wage helps align employees' earnings with the current realities of affordability in the city.

The current living wage calculated by MIT for the City of Fort Worth is $22.10/hr to cover basic necessities. This breaks down to $46,597 per year. The City of Fort Worth must raise the minimum wage to AT LEAST $20/hr to combat growing poverty rates.

The current wage rate of $15.45/hr does not meet working families' needs to meet the Median House cost of $389,589, Median Rent rate of $1,300, or Healthcare costs at the average rate of $409 per month.

The City of Fort Worth is already falling behind other major cities in Texas. In 2022, the City of Austin increased to $20/hr, in 2023 the City of Dallas raised its minimum wage to $18.24 through a living wage ordinance that has annual adjustments according to the MIT Living Wage Calculator. Travis County raised the minimum wage from $15 to $20. Why would the City of Fort Worth move to less than $20/hr in 2024 if it wants to be a champion for working people?

These folks perform essential services that are crucial for the functioning of our community. These workers deserve fair compensation for their contributions to the well-being of Fort Worth.

By raising the minimum wage for city employees, Fort Worth can set the example for other employers in the community to follow, promoting higher wages and improving overall standards of living.

Concerns about wage compression should not hinder our commitment to equity in our community through raising wages. The city has various means to tackle compression. If leaders are genuinely invested in their employees, raising the minimum wage should be viewed as an opportunity to recognize and reward all staff.

Coalition

SEIU Texas, Tarrant County AFL-CIO, United Fort Worth, Fort Worth DSA, DFW YALL and growing

Resources

LINK TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK JUNE 6th at the public comment meeting:

https://apps.fortworthtexas.gov/speakercard/default.aspx?matterfile=24-4357

Link to informal report presented to the city:

https://fortworthgov.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?m=l&id=/matter.aspx?key=10623

Video of work session meeting: https://fortworthgov.granicus.com/player/clip/5521?view_id=9&redirect=true

Living Wage Calculations for Tarrant County, Texas - MIT:

https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/48439

Local Progress - Austin to $20/hr public workers | Dallas to $18/hr in 2023:

https://localprogress.org/2022/10/13/huge-policy-wins-for-texas-workers-this-year/