WHEREAS, the cost of food, gas, energy, and clothing keeps increasing, and

WHEREAS, that even though a person may work more than 40 hours a week at the current minimum wage, they still don't earn enough money to reach the official level of poverty for a family of four, and

WHEREAS, families making the minimum wage depend on programs such as food stamps, WIC and SSI to survive, and

WHEREAS, all of these programs should be recognized as subsidies for the employers and not for the working class, since these programs protect the employers from pressure to provide a real increase in salaries,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that as members of LULAC we support the establishment of state and federal minimum wage at levels high enough so that a family will not be required to ask for any help from any assistance programs to feed, dress or shelter their families.

Approved this 29th day of June, 2002.

Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President