Minimum Wage in the USA: It's a Living?

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Finally!  After 10 long years the federal minimum wage in the United States is raised. The new federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $5.85 took effect July 24, 2007. Two more raises are scheduled: $6.55 on July 24, 2008 and $7.25 on July 24, 2009.

Yes, there has been much debate about this issue.  But the fact remains that at the 5.15 level, even working full time the worker's family would most likely be living below the poverty line, and perhaps forced to seek government or charitable aid.  Raising the minimum wage helps narrow the gap...provide encouragement and hope to those at this lowest rung of the economic ladder.

A few minimum wage facts: 

In 2002, approximately 2.6 million full-time, year-round workers lived in poverty.

- Nearly 75% of all minimum wage earners are adults (20 years and older).

- 40% of minimum wage earners are the sole breadwinners in their families.

- A full-time worker on the previous federal minimum wage (5.15) earns approximately $10,712 a year, $1,778 below the 2004 poverty line for a family of two, $4,958 below the poverty line for a family of three, and $8,138 below the poverty line for a family of four.

Source: Business & Professional Women USA
 

Articles About Minimum Wage Raise 

Minimum Wage on the Rise
Biloxi Sun Herald
Minimum Wage Workers Looking Forward To Upcoming Pay Raise
ABC 13, Lynchburg, VA
Minimum wage increase makes impact
Demopolis Times, AL

Latest News on the Minimum Wage 

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Jessica - from 7 Days @ Minimum Wage 

A hard working mom, trying to provide for her kids on a full time minimum wage job.

7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Jessica (Day 4 / Part 1)

7 Days @ Minimum Wage brings you 7 real people with 7 real stories of living on the minimum wage, hosted by Roseanne Barr and sponsored by the AFL-CIO and ACORN. On Day 4, Jessica, an educated mom of four, tells her life-story of struggle to get ahead and make a future for her family. Jessica does everything she can to break out of a daily cycle of pain inflicted by having to scrape by on the minimum wage. Be sure to view Part 2 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4zHlgWEY4U

Runtime: 5:31
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Jessica (Part Two) - From 7 Days @ Minimum Wage 

Don't miss the second part to this interview...

7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Jessica (Day 4 / Part 2)

7 Days @ Minimum Wage brings you 7 real people with 7 real stories of living on the minimum wage, hosted by Roseanne Barr and sponsored by the AFL-CIO and ACORN. On Day 4, Jessica, an educated mom of four, tells her life-story of struggle to get ahead and make a future for her family. Jessica does everything she can to break out of a daily cycle of pain inflicted by having to scrape by on the minimum wage. Part 1 is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps0JyNakyQQ

Runtime: 8:42
6644 views
10 Comments:

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More 7 Days @ Minimum Wage Videos 

7 real people with 7 real stories of living on the minimum wage


7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Paul & Susan (Day 1)

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7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Erin (Day 2)

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7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Jeffrey (Day 3)

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7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Chris (Day 5)

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7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Amanda (Day 6)

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7 Days @ Minimum Wage: Mallory (Day 7)

Runtime: 4:11
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Minimum Wage Links 

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage
Business for a Fair Minimum Wage is a project of Business for Shared Prosperity in partnership with the Let Justice Roll campaign to raise the minimum wage.
Business for Shared Prosperity
Business for Shared Prosperity is a network of forward-thinking business owners, executives and investors committed to building enduring economic progress on a strong foundation of opportunity, equity and innovation.
Mininum Wage Fact Sheet
This Mininum Wage Fact Sheet is published by Business & Professional Women USA, an organization in which I am a proud member. (Wichita Falls, TX LO)
Minimum Wage Laws in the States
Some states have enacted laws mandating higher higher minimum wages than the federal level. From the U.S. Department of Labor, this is a map showing the differences in state minimum wage laws.
Definition of Minimum Wage
From Wikipedia
Minimum Wage Facts
From the Economic Policy Institute

Organizations 

There are many groups across the USA who labor with the working poor, through advocacy, job training, mentoring and other programs.
Sojourners/Call to Renewal
Sojourners mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.
Christian Women's Job Corps and Christian Men's Job Corps
Christian Women's Job Corps and Christian Men's Job Corps provide a Christian context in which men and women in need are equipped for life and employment. Students gain job skills, career assistance, work on personal development and are guided by caring mentors and teachers toward a life of sufficiency.

Legislators IN FAVOR of Federal Minimum Wage Raise 

Legislators who spoke (and voted) in favor of the minimum wage increase...

Sen. Kennedy with religious leaders discussing minimum wage

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Minimum Wage Issue

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744 views
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Raise the Minimum Wage

Runtime: 2:42
601 views
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Kennedy on Minimum Wage

Runtime: 1:36
360 views
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Raise the Minimum Wage

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Raise the Minimum Wage

Runtime: 2:25
291 views
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Legislators AGAINST Federal Minimum Wage Raise 


DeMint Senate Speech -- Minimum Wage

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Notable Quotes 

"This is a moral nation, so the first thing we must do is convince people that poverty is a moral problem. It is a moral principle to raise the minimum wage. It is nothing but economist mumbo jumbo to say raising it will hurt jobs."
~ Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean

"Higher wages benefit business by increasing consumer purchasing power, reducing costly employee turnover, raising productivity, and improving product quality, customer satisfaction and company reputation? Today's minimum wage workers have less buying power than minimum wage workers had half a century ago. We cannot build a strong 21st century economy when more and more hardworking Americans struggle to make ends meet."
~ Business for a Fair Minimum Wage

"...the senate has been considering raising the minimum wage from 5.15 to 7.25 over a 2 year period. We have not, as we have heard in the course of this debate, raised it in the last 10 years. This is just going to restore the purchasing power of those at lower rung of the economic ladder, what it was ten years ago. Won't even give them a raise. Won't even give them a benefit. Just restore the purchasing power..." ~ Senator Ted Kennedy

Related Books on Amazon 

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

The Working Poor: Invisible in America

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Bait and Switch : The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream

Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Class Matters

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

More You Tube videos 


Two Guys on the Minimum Wage

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Raising the Minimum Wage

Runtime: 4:47
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3 Comments:


Arizona Minimum Wage Campaign

Runtime: 2:49
378 views
3 Comments:


NOW "Janitor Justice?" | PBS

Runtime: 10:17
6983 views
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Colorado ACORN's Minimum Wage Rally

Runtime: 3:42
658 views
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Machinists News Network - Surviving On Minimum Wage

Runtime: 2:52
262 views
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Reader Feedback 

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