U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh went to Birmingham, Ala., recently to stand with workers and local officials to announce the department’s final rule to increase the hourly minimum wage to $15 for employees on federal contracts.
The Department of Labor announced the visit on its website Nov. 22.
The rule to increase the wage is the final provision of Executive Order 14026, which President Joe Biden signed on April 27. The rule will go into effect on Jan. 30 in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and specified U.S. Territories, according to the Department of Labor.
“Being in Birmingham to announce this transformative action gave me a great opportunity to meet a community of workers who have been a driving force in the fight to raise the minimum wage," Walsh said, according to the release. "“Now, the federal government is doing its part to ensure that workers on federal contracts are earning a decent wage for the invaluable services they provide to keep our government running.”
Walsh was joined in Birmingham by Rep. Terri Sewell and Mayor Randall Woodfin. They met with area workers to discuss the benefits of the wage increase and how the new rule will impact communities.
“The workers helped by Executive Order 14026 and today’s final rule do essential work on our nation’s behalf," Walsh said. "They build and repair the federal infrastructure, clean and maintain our national parks, monuments and other federal facilities, care for our veterans, and ensure federal workers and military service members are provided with safe and nutritious food. Implementing this Executive Order improves the economic security of these workers and their families, many of whom are women and people of color.”
