Until recently, there was no national minimumwage in China, and localminimum wages were typically below the prevailing market wage so as not to destroy jobs and growth.
John Edwards, Mr Kerry's running-mate in 2004, has been telling local Democratic caucuses that they should embrace the minimum-wage issue as a sure winner.
About five years ago, the federation joined with local community groups mobilizing to improve working conditions for car washers, mainly immigrants sometimes paid less than the hourly minimumwage and largely relying on tips.