press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Progress Michigan

February 21, 2025

Contact: Denzel McCampbell, denzel@progressmichigan.org

Progress Michigan Statement on Rolling Back of Minimum Wage & Paid Sick Leave

MICHIGAN – On Friday, Progress Michigan released the following statement in response to the Michigan Legislature rolling back the state’s minimum wage increase and paid sick leave. The following statement can be attributed to Sam Inglot, executive director for Progress Michigan. 

“It is disappointing that the Michigan Legislature caved to a spin campaign pushed by corporate lobbyists and voted to roll back a well-deserved raise and paid sick leave for working families in Michigan. Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders took action to sign petitions and demand that we give workers a raise, eliminate the subminimum tipped wage, and implement paid sick leave in 2018. Advocates fought back against the Republican adopt-and-amend scheme and won, only to face the same betrayal in 2025 – this time in a bipartisan fashion.

“We thank the legislators who held the line and voted to let the laws take effect as originally intended. While the outcome is disappointing, their advocacy demonstrates that we have a new generation of leaders who believe in the power of democracy and the importance of justice for all workers. This is not the outcome that Michigan voters deserved, but the fight put up by these legislators reminds us that there are still champions for working families in Lansing. Their refusal to yield to corporate interests was an act of courage and integrity.

“Michiganders have made it clear that they want their representatives to act on their behalf, not corporate interests. We’ll keep fighting to hold elected officials accountable to that demand.” 

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