Before the pandemic, millions of workers already weren’t earning enough to provide for themselves and their families. COVID has only made this worse. Raising the minimum wage would lift more than 1 million people out of poverty (Source: Congressional Budget Office per Facing South) ; and a $15/hour minimum wage is a basic, decent wage that will help full-time workers achieve a modestly adequate standard of living (source: Economic Policy Institute). And this would only include the essentials like food, rent, transportation, and water. That doesn’t cover things like healthcare or medicine. And it doesn’t include child care or caregiver expenses. It’s the bare minimum.
People think minimum wage workers are kids and teenagers. They think they’re working part time. They think they’re looking to earn a little extra spending money. None of that is true. The average minimum wage worker is 35 years old. 28%t have children, 54% work full time, 59% are women, and almost a quarter are women of color.
For you, this is a job, a career, but for other people this is their life. Raising that minimum wage would significantly improve the quality of life of local workers. It’s great that Utah is one of the lowest poverty states in the U.S., but that fact doesn’t help the people who are still suffering. I believe Utah to be a kind and considerate state. It only makes sense that a state composed of devoted followers of Christ would be more concerned for their fellow neighbor.
It’s time for elected officials to put workers first, and pass a national $15/hour minimum wage.
Tessa Memmott, Orem