Raising the Minimum Wage

Stagnant income is a crisis of our time. Because of American worker productivity, the average American economy is almost twice the size of 1980 - but most families have nothing to show. Whereas corporate earnings account for the largest percentage of national income, wages are at the lowest level for 65 years.

Raising the minimum wage is one of the best ways for us to increase revenues and develop consumption-driven economies. But over the past 40 years, the federal minimum wage, which has been maintained at $ 7.25 since 2009, has lost 30% of its value. Not only in Washington State but also in the states and cities throughout the country, NELP is fighting wages that families can continue to live with the economy that is suitable for all of us.

For details on the policy of minimum wage and activities to raise the wage of the people, please visit our website raisetheminimumwage.com.

Whenever a city or state discusses raising the minimum wage, both business and conservative legislators take a series of three threats. They believe that higher minimum wages will hinder employment opportunities. They insist that wages suffer companies. They insist that prices will rise sharply. (Below is a survey of EPI before raising wages in Seattle, most companies predict all three.) This is the three main issues on raising wages.

For a while, the national debate has focused on raising the federal minimum wage. The current minimum wage is $ 7.25. Former President Obama insists on gradually raising the minimum wage to about $ 10 hourly wage. Recently the Congressional Budget Bureau reported that there are several advantages on both sides of the discussion due to the strengths and weaknesses of raising the minimum wage. The Congressional Budget Bureau thinks that the main advantage or benefit of raising the minimum wage is to raise hourly wages to around $ 10.10, which could raise up to 900,000 people from poverty. These figures come from the poverty rate of the current low wage workers in particular. By raising the minimum wage of nearly $ 3 per hour, these workers can better support themselves and their families.