United Church of Christ - Raise the Minimum Wage

Raise the Minimum Wage

In the past 40 years the federal minimum wage has lost more than 30% of its value and would today be more than $10.60 per hour if it had kept pace with the cost of living. The federal minimum wage for tipped workers (currently $2.13 per hour) has not increased in over 20 years.

Working Mother During the month of March we have honored women and their contributions as part of Women’s History Month, but we know that we must continue to work for justice for women and their families throughout the year to come. While raising the minimum wage would positively impact 28 million Americans, this change would be especially important for women, who disproportionately hold low-wage jobs. Women make up 47% of the overall workforce, but hold 76% of the jobs in the ten largest low-wage occupations (occupations that typically pay less than $10.10 an hour). These occupations include childcare workers, cashiers, home health aides, waiters and waitresses, and food preparers.

Our current federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour) does not provide economic security for women and their families. A woman working full time, year round at the federal minimum wage earns just $14,500—a meager salary which can’t always cover even basic expenses such as groceries and utilities. Rather than providing security and opportunity, the minimum wage is imposing poverty upon millions of hard-working Americans.

Congress now has the opportunity to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. This legislation would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, increase the tipped minimum wage to 70% of the minimum wage, and index both rates to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

As most of the job creation after the Great Recession has fallen into low-wage categories, raising the minimum wage is now more important than ever.

Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would boost the income of nearly 28 million workers, 55% of them women.
This increase would move millions of women closer to economic stability and would also strengthen the economy.
Increasing the minimum wage for low-wage workers results in lower employee turnover, boosts worker efforts and morale, and encourages employers to invest in their workers.

Addressing economic inequality is one of our 2014 legislative priorities and addressing the minimum wage is an important piece of this effort. As people of faith, we offer a unique message to those with the power to impact the well-being of our workers. Please join us in calling upon Congress to do the right thing.

Our Scripture is clear in its call for the fair and just treatment of laborers, as we hear in Deuteronomy 24 and Isaiah 65, which lift up a vision in which all participate in and share in the fruits of human labor. Tell your elected officials to support the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013.

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Dear [Decision Maker],

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As a member of the United Church of Christ and one of your constituents, I am writing to ask you to support the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. This important piece of legislation would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, increase the tipped minimum wage to 70% of the minimum wage, and index both rates to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Such changes would provide economic security to millions of hard-working Americans who work full time but still struggle to put food on the table.

Women in particular are hurt by stagnant low wages. Women comprise 47% of the overall workforce, but represent 76% of the workers employed in the 10 largest low-wage jobs. Working full-time, year round, the current federal minimum wage translates to an annual income of $14,500--a figure not high enough to cover even basic expenses such as groceries and utilities. Rather than providing security and opportunity for full-time workers, the minimum wage is imposing poverty upon millions of Americans.

Raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would boost the income of nearly 28 million workers, 55% of whom are women. In addition to providing economic stability for workers, it would also strengthen our economy. Increasing the minimum wage for low-wage workers results in lower employee turnover, boosts worker efforts and morale, and encourages employers to invest in their workers.

I urge you and your colleagues to support higher wages for low-wage workers. I appreciate your consideration of this important issue and will be eagerly looking forward to your vote in favor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]