We in the labor movement applaud strides being made to lift working people out of poverty and are heartened to see that the "Fight for $15," a national campaign to raise wages for fast-food and other underpaid workers, is gaining momentum.

Last week came news of New York State’s commitment to an eventual $15-an-hour pay rate for its 200,000 workers in the fast-food industry. Similarly, the University of California system announced plans to phase in worker raises that will increase pay for many to $15 an hour by 2017.

Cities including Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oakland and Seattle have all approved phased-in increases to bring their minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Now is the time to help Hawaii families by raising the wages of our dedicated public workers to a decent and dignified level. Did you know that thousands of full-time government workers in Hawaii make less than $15 an hour?

Many of you know these workers as the educational assistants working alongside your child’s teachers in the public school system, or as office assistants at any number of state or county facilities. These workers may also be your best friend, uncle or your mom.

Hawaii’s government workers, whether at the county or state level, are the people who make sure our public services run well and are available for everyone.

While no one goes into a career in the public sector expecting to become wealthy, it is shameful that a segment of government workers in Hawaii make less than $15 an hour.

Additionally, many of those in public service pay as much as approximately 40 percent of their medical insurance premiums. The average premium for single coverage is about $200 per month; a family plan is approximately $650 per month. For those employees who earn $15 an hour, their one week’s salary, before taxes, would go to pay for the family medical plan. That doesn’t leave much for rent or mortgage payments, food and utilities.

It is a sad and ironic fact that some of these public employees whose job is to help others obtain public assistance can actually qualify for public assistance themselves.

To date, a few states across the nation have taken steps to improve the lives of their lowest-paid public workers with a living wage. While this is encouraging, much more needs to be done — including here in our own state, which has an impressive history of visionary leaders who fought to enact labor laws that ensure fairness, dignity and equity for all workers.

We all know it’s challenging to raise a family in Hawaii. As headlines constantly remind us, Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to live in the country. It is also one of the most special. We are looking to our governor, our mayors and legislators — as policy makers and leaders of our great state — to take a hard look at the salaries of public workers and raise them to a level that will give these employees an opportunity to have a quality life.

As University of California President Janet Napolitano said, "It’s the right thing to do."