AJR 12, as introduced, Gatto. Minimum wage.
This measure would call upon the President of the United States to include raising foreign minimum wages in future treaties, trade agreements, and other international protocols. It would also call upon the Senate of the United States to decline to ratify these agreements that fail to include these provisions.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, Unemployment remains too high in the United
2States, with one significant cause being the “outsourcing” of quality
3trades, manufacturing, and service industry jobs to nations where
4workers are paid minuscule wages for their labor; and
5WHEREAS, In an age of “globalization,” many American
6industries have suffered due to competition from foreign employers
7who pay wages well below the federal minimum wage; and
8WHEREAS, A standardized international minimum wage, or
9even a staggered annual increase in foreign minimum wages, would
10ensure that American workers and firms compete on a “level
11playing field” in the global market; and
12WHEREAS, A rising minimum wage in foreign countries would
13raise the standard of living for billions of people worldwide and
14would open new markets to American exports; and
P2 1WHEREAS, A guarantee of fair wages and employment rights
2would curb the exploitation of workers; and
3WHEREAS, The advent of a minimum wage in developing
4countries would eliminate the need for some American foreign aid
5and assist in reducing poverty and creating more stable societies
6less prone towards wars or terrorism; and
7WHEREAS, The United States has a long history of stimulating
8beneficial policies abroad when negotiating treaties and trade
9agreements, including, inter alia, demanding free elections,
10protecting American patents, prohibiting nuclear testing, requiring
11currency stabilization, and requiring environmental safeguards, as
12a condition for peaceable relations, open trade, and robust
13commerce with the United States; and
14WHEREAS, The United States is in a unique position to affect
15global policies by utilizing its treaty powers to require foreign
16nations to stop exploiting low wages for competitive advantage;
17now, therefore, be it
18Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
19California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully calls upon the
20President of the United States to include raising foreign minimum
21wages in future treaties, trade agreements, and other international
22protocols; and that the Senate of the United States Congress decline
23to ratify such agreements that fail to include such provisions; and
24be it further
25Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
26of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
27States, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to the Chief Clerk
28of the United States Senate, for distribution among members of
29the United States Senate.
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