The Minimum Wage Must Be Raised Essay -- Increase Minimum Wage Essays

"Los Angeles lawmakers Tuesday voted to boost the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020, the largest city to try to help its lowest-paid workers survive amid the nation's growing income inequality." -- Michael Winter, USA TODAY May 19, 2015 Understanding the potential of an increase in today’s minimum wage is the key to understanding the above statement. As a financial mechanism in American society, the minimum wage has helped to sustain generations of workers. Yet, there are two sides to the debate over minimum wage increases. One side—the proponents—feel strongly that low-income workers need some incentive to earn a sufficient living. Conversely, opponents believe that changing the minimum wage does not always help workers and can hurt businesses. Nevertheless, the minimum wage should be raised in order to assist American families, aid economic recovery, and help people get out of debt. Background In 1938, Congress began the minimum wage at 25 cents per hour, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (Sherk, 2013). By July 2009, the minimum wage had been raised to $7.25 an hour. Washington State boasts one of the highest minimum wages in the country--$9.19 an hour (Sherk, 2013). The number of Americans who earn minimum wage has always been in question. In 2011, it was reported that 3.7 million Americans earned minimum wage, and that is equivalent to just 2.9 percent of the working population in the country (Sherk, 2013). Next, it is important to note what types of workers get minimum wage earnings. According to Sherk (2013), there are two categories----young workers (still in school) and old workers (out of school). Moreover, these young adults are not likely to live in middle or high income families, and they are typic... ...ey, A. (2013). Raising minimum wage would ease income gap but carries political risks. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/us/politics/obama-pushes-for-increase-in-federal-minimum-wage.html Matthews, D. (2013). Four things to know about Obama’s minimum wage increase. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/13/four-things-to-know-about-obamas-minimum-wage-increase/ Sherk, J. (2013). What is minimum wage: its history and effects on the economy. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/2013/06/what-is-minimum-wage-its-history-and-effects-on-the-economy Wilson, M. (2012). The negative effects of minimum wage laws. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/negative-effects-minimum-wage-laws Winter, Michael. "L.A. to boost minimum wage to $15", USA TODAY May 19, 2015