The Living Wage
Why a Living Wage?
A living wage can be defined as the wage required to keep a family above the poverty line. The main idea behind the living wage concept is to provide workers with a level of income that would allow for an acceptable standard of living. This would include being able to afford food, healthcare, housing, utilities and some degree of recreation.
History of the Living Wage
The battle for the living wage has traditionally been fought on the municipal level rather than the state or national level. This is because the monetary and political lobbying businesses can execute carries much less of an advantage on the local, small-scale level. The first victory for the living wage movement occurred in Baltimore in 1994. Starting in 1996, $6.10/hour became the lowest wage firms holding municipal service contracts could pay their workers. The ordinance also specified that the minimum wage would rise to $7.70/hour by 1999, and must afterwards remain consistent in terms of inflation.
What is the cost of a living wage?
Issues
Poverty
- Pro
- Con
Employment
- Pro
- Con
Productivity
- Pro
- Con
Privatization
- Pro
- Con
