| RICHMOND, Va. —— The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI) today released “Jonei”, a digital ad highlighting the continued need to raise Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.
The ad, which will be backed by a buy on Facebook, features Jonei, a Virginia restaurant worker and teacher’s aide who lives paycheck to paycheck despite holding two jobs.
Delegate Jeion Ward (D-Hampton), who this year patroned HB1 to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026, serves as the ad’s narrator. President Pro Tempore of the Virginia Senate Louise Lucas championed the minimum wage bill, SB1, in her chamber. Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed both pieces of legislation.
“There are thousands of workers like Jonei across the commonwealth, with many holding down two jobs but still struggling to get by,” said Ashley Kenneth, President and CEO of The Commonwealth Institute. “Jonei should not have to choose between her groceries and her phone bill, and neither should any Virginia worker. Governor Youngkin should listen to the voices of people like Jonei and rethink his position on the minimum wage bill next year. It’s time that he sides with Virginia workers over big corporations.”
The ad can be viewed on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and YouTube. A full transcript is below:
JONEI: People don’t understand how exhausting this is to be 23 and having sore feet every single night, working two jobs.
DELEGATE WARD: Across Virginia, thousands of workers wake up each morning, put in long hours and do our most essential jobs.
JONEI: I’m still fighting to choose between school or putting food in my fridge. It’s exhausting. It’s honestly not fair at all.
DELEGATE WARD: These workers dream of getting ahead, to go back to school or improve their careers.
JONEI: Every day is a choice for me of if I’m going to pay my phone bill or if I’m going to get groceries.
DELEGATE WARD: Nine out of ten workers who would benefit from a higher minimum wage are over 20 years old. Most are women, and many are people of color.
JONEI: There’s been so many times where I have literally felt like I wanted to collapse on the ground and just give it all up.
DELEGATE WARD: These are the faces of the Virginia workforce.
JONEI: I’m struggling every day still with two jobs. I use loans through my bank, which is bringing down my credit at my age.
DELEGATE WARD: This isn’t just about numbers. Virginians deserve dignity, respect and just being treated fairly. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a raise in the minimum wage to $15 an hour. He would rather give corporations a tax cut than help Virginia’s working families.
JONEI: A few things that would change if the minimum wage was raised. I would be able to go back to school. I wouldn’t have to take out loans and have to go paycheck to paycheck just to even put groceries in my fridge.
DELEGATE WARD: Virginia workers deserve better. They deserve a living wage, one that reflects the value of their hard work. It’s time to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Together, we can ensure every Virginian has the opportunity to thrive, not just survive. |
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