ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque City Council rejected an ordinance to raise the minimum wage in a 6-3 vote on Monday night. The bill would have raised the city’s minimum wage to match the state, including for tipped workers, from $11.20 to $12 an hour. It would also have bolstered enforcement of wage theft violations.
People came out in droves to denounce a previous amendment from Councilors Brook Bassan and Renee Grout that would have lowered the tipped minimum wage to $3. After the public backlash, they decided not to reintroduce that amendment.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller sent this statement:
We will keep fighting for workers and to raise minimum wage as prices increase so no one gets left behind. We were encouraged to hear many councilors indicate they’d support the bill with adjustments, so we will be bringing this back to the table.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller