Missouri campaign to raise minimum wage, earn sick leave submits signatures

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Over 210,000 signatures were collected across the state to put earned sick leave and a higher minimum wage on the 2024 state ballot.

Missourians for Health Families and Fair Wages, low-wage workers, and supporters gathered at the Capitol Wednesday to submit the signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office.

“It would be a lot easier to where we don’t have to choose which bill is going to be paid or what’s going to be shut off,” said Marieta Ortiz, a restaurant worker in Kansas City. “As a single parent, that’s a constant worry.”

The measure says Missouri workers would earn 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and would raise the minimum wage to $13.75 by Jan. 1, 2025 and $15 by Jan. 1, 2026.

Ortiz says she felt excited and overwhelmed turning in the signatures she helped collect before going to work. Recently, she said she got sick and had to take 4 days off of work.

“So, I missed 90 hours’ worth plus tips worth of pay and a bill was still due later that week and it got shut off,” said Ortiz. “Looking at my kids, they ask why the water, lights, or gas got shut off and it just broke my heart. I feel like a horrible mom when my bills are due and I can’t afford them because I have no paid sick days.”

If allowed on the state ballot and passed, she says it would be a weight off her and thousands of other low wage workers’ shoulders.

“Help us low wage workers be able to provide better for our families,” said Ortiz. “We don’t have to worry about the lights, gas, water, or being evicted from our place.”

The signatures will now go through a verification process by the Secretary of State’s Office. If approved, it will go on the state ballot later this year.

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