Transcript
5 reasons to raise the minimum wage to a living wage
Written by @p.iper
Designed by @tanii_velin
[Photo of a person wearing a face mask, gloves, and a White Sox jacket, holding up a sign that says “Fight for $15” multiple times. Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images]
#1: Increasing the minimum wave would reduce poverty.
40% of Americans don't have $400 to cover an emergency.
[Photo of 4 $100 bills]
Increasing the federal minimum wage to $15/hr would lift 1.3 million people out of poverty.
[Photo of people marching to end poverty. Several people in the front row of the march hold a banner that reads, “End poverty now!” Behind them, many other people march with signs. Source: AP Photo / John Froschauer]
#2: A living wage would minimize the financial struggles caused by the pandemic.
The Intl. Labor Org. found that the pandemic destroyed 8.8% of all work hours in 2020 - 4x worse than the 2009 financial crisis.
This equates to a drop of $3.7 trillion in income globally.
A living wage will bolster the economy & help people get back on their feet.
Increased financial compensation to small businesses should accompany a living wage.
[Photo of a newspaper page with a photo of a doctor treating a COVID-19 patient in the hospital. Source: Chalres Deluvio / Unsplash]
#3: The minimum wage has not kept up with inflation.
The minimum wage reached its peak in 1968, which would equate to more than $12 today.
However, the current federal minimum wage is just $7.25 and has not changed since 2009.
[ Bar graph comparing the minimum wage of 1968 to the minimum wage of 2009 to present. 1968 is represented as a solid bar at $1.60 with a gradient bar above it, reaching up past $15, labelled “1968's minimum wage adjusted for inflation.” 2009 to present is represented as a solid bar at $7.25. ]
#4: People want it.
2/3 of Americans support raising federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Big business interests keep the government from listening to the people.
[ Photo of a group of people in purple shirts marching with signs that say “Justice can't wait!," “Poverty wages don't fly,” and “Lucha por $15 y un sindicato." Source: Mike Blake / Reuters ]
#5: It's the bare minimum.
Everyone deserves to live comfortably.
Add your name to raise the minimum wage at:
Sources:
- ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/US/10-americans-struggle-cover-400-emergency-expense-federal/story?id=63253846
- Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-financial-crisis-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-b2aec77662857af746583b071f339486
- CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/09/the-us-is-closer-to-a-15-federal-minimum-wage-after-biden-win-.html
- Pew Research: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/30/two-thirds-of-americans-favor-raising-federal-minimum-wage-to-15-an-hour/
- Saving.org: saving.org/inflation/
- US Department of Labor: dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/
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