Work together to eradicate poverty

To the editor:

Low wages are the No. 1 reason many people in Iowa are working hard but still experiencing poverty.

I have been working in Iowa City for several years and am concerned about the poverty many of my co-workers and I are experiencing. I am a single person and I work two jobs and the money still isn't enough to live on.

I go to my first job tired and stressed, and then I go to my other job, and when I come home I only sleep for about three hours before getting up and getting ready for work tired and stressed again. My wages aren't just. What I get paid isn't enough to survive on and to pay for rent, water, lights and phone service - much less to support a family.

I am a hard worker, and so are my co-workers. We deserve more than to live paycheck by paycheck hoping we'll have enough to eat.

But, we can do something about this problem. It's time to raise the wage for Iowa workers. I am joining the Fight for 15 - the fight for a $15 an hour minimum wage for all workers to fight the poverty and the economy we are experiencing. This way we will grow the economy in our communities. This way we can spend more time with our families and engage in more community activities. This way we will all have a better life and the region will improve as we begin to eradicate poverty in our communities.

Carmelo Flores Lagos

Iowa City