Supporters of Issue 2, minimum wage increase

Issue 2 supporters issued this news statement after the statewide initiative passed:

"Ohio’s working families may earn a victory tonight as early vote totals indicate that Issue 2 will win. Passage will increase Ohio’s minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.85 an hour starting Jan. 1 and will provide for increases each year thereafter as the cost of living rises.

"Voters recognized the basic fairness of raising the minimum wage and ensuring that it keeps pace with the cost of living," said State Sen. C.J. Prentiss, D-Cleveland, and co-chair of Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage. "And they responded at the polls today by supporting Issue 2."

Co-chair Tim Burga of the Ohio AFL-CIO added that "boosting the wage is not only a victory for workers, but also a victory for Ohio’s economy." He said that "states with higher minimum wages perform better economically because when workers earn more they buy more, which benefits local businesses."

Voter approval of Issue 2 marks the first real wage increase for Ohioans since Congress last increased the wage to $5.15 in 1996. Mary Keith, Chair of Ohio ACORN said, "Minimum-wage workers have been denied a raise for far too long and tonight voters righted this wrong."

Burga, Prentiss and Katy Gall of Ohio ACORN thanked those throughout the state "who knocked on doors, made phone calls, and went the extra mile to make sure voters knew the importance of passing Issue 2 and raising Ohio’s minimum wage."