Marking the 13-year anniversary of the last federal minimum wage increase in the U.S. — a meager boost from $5.15 to $7.25 in 2009 — progressive campaigners on Sunday urged congressional Democrats to make another push to raise the national pay floor as inflation continues to diminish workers’ purchasing power.
“Today is a sad anniversary in the United States,” saidMorris Pearl, chair, Patriotic Millionaires, an organization that promotes progressive economic policy. “For 13 years now, Congress has failed to act to raise the $7.25 hourly federal minimum wage. Lawmakers have turned their backs on America’s tens of millions of low-wage workers and revealed themselves to be beholden to the short-sighted interests of some of their ultra-rich donors.”
According to a recent analysisAccording to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), current value of federal minimum wage is at its lowest point in almost seven decades. This is despite record-high inflation which prompted a decreaseIn real hourly earnings between June 2021 & June 2022 as corporate profits soared.
“Last July marked the longest period without a minimum wage increase since Congress established the federal minimum wage in 1938,” EPI noted, “and continued inaction on the federal minimum wage over the past year has only further eroded the minimum wage’s value.”
In 2021, Senate Democrats stripped a proposed $15 federal minimum wage from their coronavirus relief package on the advice of the chamber’s parliamentarian, an unelected official tasked with offering non-binding opinions on whether legislation complies with Senate rules.
Eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans in voting down Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) last-ditch attempt to reinclude the provision, which was approved by the House.
👀The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 for 13 Years – just $15,080 a year if you work full time – as the cost of living rises ⬆️
The last increase occurred on July 24, 2009. This is the longest time in history that there has been no increase.
It’s past time. #RaisetheWage ‼️ pic.twitter.com/vCmX0jZ0gR— Business for Fair MinWage (@MinimumWageBiz) July 23, 2022
After more than a decade in federal inaction, states and localitiesIn response to the grassroots Fight for $15 movement, hourly wages have been raised across the U.S.
In 20 states, the minimum wage is $7.25 an hr. Tip subminimum wageIt is still $3 an hr or lower in 22 States.
The federal minimum wage would have risen at Wall Street bonuses’ rate if it had been raised. $61.75 an hourInstead of $7.25 If the minimum wages had kept up with worker productivity from 1968 to 1968, it would have reached $7.25. around $23 an hour last year.
“Regressive politicians across this country have kept our wages down for years,” Fight for $15 wroteTweet. “That’s why it’s important that we get at least $15/hour federal minimum wage. That way no one gets left behind.”
Morris of the Patriotic Millionaires said Sunday that “$7.25 was already inadequate back in 2009 when the minimum wage was last raised, but now it is downright deplorable.”
“Since 2009, workers have endured the Great Recession, a worldwide pandemic, historic inflation, and massive changes in the cost of living,” Pearl added. “And what have they gotten in return? A minimum wage that is worth 27% less than its 2009 value, one that now isn’t enough to afford even a single-bedroom apartment in 93% of the country.”
“In the face of rapidly rising costs for American families, Congress must act to raise wages for the tens of millions of workers who are struggling just to get by. They must immediately raise minimum wage to at most $15 an hour. Our country cannot afford to reach a 14th anniversary of $7.25.”
And if congressional Democrats can’t muster “the political will” to raise the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour — a move that would boost the incomes of more than 30 million people across the country — “then the president must act,” said Pearl.
“When President Biden came into office, he raised the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors to $15,” he pointed out. “Given the rising cost of living, he should now raise the minimum wage for federal contractors even higher, to no less than $20 an hour. This move will benefit hundreds of thousands of workers, prove to voters that Democrats care about working people, and provide a strong example to spur Congressional Democrats to action.”
“The president,” Pearl added, “is supposed to be the leader of our country — it’s time for Biden to lead on this critical issue.”
