LINCOLN - Supporters of a petition drive to raise the minimum wage in the state to $15 say the effort would improve lives and boost economic security for Nebraskans.

The group Raise the Wage Nebraska began collecting signatures to put the wage increase in front of voters come November 2022.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, roughly 195,000 Nebraskans would benefit from the increase.

Omaha Senator Terrell McKinney said the pandemic has highlighted than many Nebraskans "are not paid adequately." He went on to say "We rave about a low unemployment rate, but forget that many people are working multiple jobs and not being paid very much."

Many of the workers deemed "essential" during the COVID-19 pandemic are those who could most benefit from the increase, said McKinney.

Raise the Wage Nebraska, consisting of ACLU Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed, the Nebraska State AFL-CIO and the NAACP Lincoln Branch, has already collected a few thousand of the 87,000 signatures needed by July 2022.

If the petition were to receive the signatures needed and succeeded in November 2022, wages would increase $1.50 annually upon reaching $15 in 2026.

Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, noted that employers have already increased many starting hourly wages in response to the lack of workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially making the initiative a moot point. Other opposition stems from those defending small-businesses who have already had trouble filling open positions.

Governor Pete Ricketts has defended small-businesses as well, saying "The $15-per-hour campaign benefits big businesses at the expense of Main Street job creators."

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