Santa F.–New Mexico workers and their families celebrated on Friday after the House of Representatives and the Senate agreed to a legislative compromise reached in conference committee that will raise the state’s minimum wage for the first time in over 10 years. The proposal now heads to the governor’s desk for final signature.

A statewide minimum wage coalition mobilized hundreds of workers from across New Mexico during the session in support of a wage hike, coalescing around Rep. Miguel García’s (D-Bernalillo) $12 minimum wage bill (HB 31).

During a conference committee late Thursday night between members of the House and Senate, led negotiations in a final compromise that:

• Gradually increases state minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2023
• Gradually increases the “tipped credit” for tipped employees to $3 an hour by 2023
• Allows for a new sub-minimum wage for students at $8.50 an hour
• Does not include an annual cost of living adjustment

Below are reactions from low-wage workers and community organizations across New Mexico:

“This is a victory for New Mexico’s working families and came about as a result of years of organizing efforts lead by low-wage workers,” said Margarita Castruita Flores a member of El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos. “We are proud of the contributions that low-wage workers make to our State and this compromise bill is a step in the right direction for our families to obtain financial stability. There is still a lot of work ahead and we will continue to organize our communities to obtain a living wage for all workers in New Mexico.

“Workers and champions like Rep. Miguel Garcia refused to give up,” said Marcela Diaz, Executive Director for Somos Un Pueblo Unido. “By raising the minimum wage, the legislature finally recognized that workers are the backbone of New Mexico’s economy and should be compensated fairly. Getting to $12 per hour will make a big difference for our families in rural communities and local economies.”

OLÉ member Cristal Carter said, “$12/hour by 2023 is a big win for ALL hardworking New Mexico families. We fought hard for this and it shows. Families will now have the stability they need to thrive in our communities because over 200,000 workers across the state of New Mexico will receive the raise they deserve.”

“An increase in the minimum wage will mean a better living situation for the folks in our community who need it the most — people working hard, full time and still on the brink of poverty. It was more difficult than it should have been for the voices of workers to be heard at the legislature and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight for a living wage and true economic security for families across New Mexico,” said J.D. Mathews, State Political Director for New Mexico Working Families Party.

“This victory is the result of workers from all across New Mexico coming together to push for wages that respect their work and allow them to provide for themselves and their families,” said Stephanie Welch, a supervising attorney at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “The increase will help people who receive the lowest wages in the state finally recover some of their lost spending power. It was high time they saw a raise. The cost of living has gone up over the last 10 years, but the minimum wage stayed flat.”