Excerpt
JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour): Jobs numbers in the United States are due later this week, and they're expected to show hiring continues at a moderate pace. But, even as the economy recovers slowly, there are other worries, including a lack of progress on wages.
That was the subject when Ray Suarez sat down with the secretary of labor recently.
RAY SUAREZ (Newshour): Labor issues frequently don't capture the top headlines, but the question of a living wage is moving front and center of late.
Protests by fast food workers have helped raise the profile of the issue. In the largest demonstration yet, workers from 60 cities walked off the job last week. They're seeking $15 an hour and the right to unionize. Many restaurant owners say those added costs would make it too difficult to maintain their businesses. For his part, President Obama has called for raising the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour, up from the current level of $7.25.
Labor Secretary Thomas Perez is a key voice for dealing with these and other issues. He was just recently confirmed by the Senate.
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