But Republicans said a wage increase would act as a barrier to the lowest-paid workers.
The steep decline in wages among the lowest-paid workers has come to a halt.
This is one reason that real wages for the lowest-paid workers in Mexico dropped by 50 percent from 1985 to 2000.
Harvard officials do not argue that their lowest-paid workers are being paid what they're worth.
They will receive a dollar an hour more next year, if the voters decide to give the lowest-paid workers a raise.
Right now, the lowest-paid worker is an entry-level administrative person who gets about $16,400.
But as share prices rose and dividends were paid, equal to two months' salary for the lowest-paid workers, interest picked up, he said.
"Why can't we give 90 cents more an hour to millions of our nation's lowest-paid workers?"
The wages of the lowest-paid workers were allowed to rise to a minimum level (1944).
They're the lowest-paid workers in the city work force.