Members of the Maryland General Assembly,
Our transportation hubs are part of what makes our state so great. BWI, the Port of Baltimore, and Penn Station are all vital to connecting our communities to our neighboring states and beyond. The essential workers that are employed at these hubs are what makes them run and these workers deserve more.
We urge members of our state legislature to support these workers, especially in these difficult times. While many of us have been staying home to curve the spread of COVID-19, workers at our transportation hubs have been going to work to maintain the smooth operation of these locations while also ensuring the safety of passengers who have had to travel during this global pandemic.
Although these workers are essential to all of our travel needs from BWI, the port of Baltimore, and Penn Station, they make as little as minimum wage, some even relying on tips for their income. Many of these workers are forced to rely on state assisted programs as a result of their low wages and some are not offered adequate healthcare options by their employers. With poverty wages and lack of adequate healthcare, these workers are especially prone to the impacts of COVID-19 and have had to work through the pandemic to ensure our travel needs are met. As residents of Maryland and members of our state’s vibrant communities, we believe these workers deserve a path to a living wage and comprehensive healthcare options now.
The Secure Maryland Wage Act would increase the minimum wage at our state’s transportation hubs to $14.32 while adding $4.54 towards workers’ healthcare costs. This would give workers at our transportation hubs a long overdue increase to their wages. It would also provide them with access to healthcare options so that they are able to take care of themselves and their families when they are sick. We believe that these workers have been made to suffer on poverty wages and lack of healthcare options for far too long and it is our duty as members of the community to ensure that they are able to sustain themselves and their families since it is their job to assist to the travel needs of ours.
We, the undersigned, urge the Maryland State Legislature to pass this bill. Workers at BWI, the Port of Baltimore, and Penn Station deserve better and can’t wait for this increase. Please pass this bill as soon as possible so that these workers feel appreciated for their hard work in ensuring our transport at these hubs.
Thank you.
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