December 10th 2024.
According to a recent report by USA Today, several states and localities have made the decision to increase their minimum wage to $15 an hour or more by the year 2025. This move is seen as a way to provide some financial stability in these uncertain economic times. The National Employment Law Project has gathered data showing that 21 states and 48 cities and counties will implement this increase on January 1st, with more states planning to follow suit later in the year. In fact, three states - Illinois, Delaware, and Rhode Island - will be setting $15 as the new minimum wage for the first time, joining seven other states that have already reached or surpassed this amount. In Burien, Washington, the minimum pay for employers with 500 or more workers will be raised to an impressive $21.16, making it the highest pay floor in the nation.
But it's not just states that are taking action. California and New Jersey will also be raising the minimum wage to $17 or higher for certain healthcare workers. Yannet Lathrop, a senior researcher and policy analyst for the National Employment Law Project, believes that while this increase won't make workers rich, it's a step in the right direction. "It's important to remember that a full-time worker earning $17 per hour will only make $35,360 per year before taxes," Lathrop points out. "These wages may not bring wealth, but they can help cover the basics and maybe even a few little luxuries."
In addition to financial benefits, Lathrop also notes that higher wages can have a positive impact on workers' mental and physical health, their access to credit, and even their children's educational outcomes. It's clear that this increase is not just about making more money, but also about improving overall quality of life.
While some states have already reached the $15 per hour mark, others are still working towards it. Missouri's minimum wage will be increasing from $12.30 to $13.75, and Nebraska's will go from $12 to $13. For workers like Kaamilya Hobbs, who currently makes $13.44 an hour working part-time at Arby's and delivering for DoorDash, this increase is much needed. However, it's still not enough to cover all of life's expenses. Hobbs, a mother of three, explains that even with her boyfriend's help, their combined income barely covers basic necessities. "Sometimes we have to delay paying rent or a cell phone bill for a month," she shares. "It's a constant balancing act."
Hobbs believes that the state's planned increase to $13.75 will provide some relief, but ultimately more needs to be done. "The cost of living keeps going up," she points out. "We can't survive on $13.75." It's clear that for workers like Hobbs, there is still a long way to go before they can truly feel financially secure.
In Missouri, where the minimum wage increase is causing controversy, workers may have to fight for their rights. The Associated Press reports that business groups are strongly opposed to the pay raise, so much so that they have filed a lawsuit to try to stop it. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry claims that the law, which also includes a requirement for paid sick leave, violates the state's constitution by addressing multiple issues. But for advocates like Terrence Wise of Fight for 15, this opposition is unacceptable. "It's sickening that corporations are trying to steal our victory and silence the voices of the voters who made this possible," he says. It seems that the fight for fair wages is far from over in the Show Me State.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
