Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012

The Fair Minimum Wage Act is a bill in Congress right now that would increase wages by 33% for minimum wage earners and more than double the wages for tip-earners. It's the first time in 5 years and 21 years respectively for these two groups to see an increase in hourly pay. Federal minimum wage would increase from $7.25 to $9.80, generating an extra $40 billion in income, 100,000 jobs, and $25 billion in GDP. 

So, what's the problem? Like with everything else, it's the economic crisis and our outstanding debt.
Democrats and Republicans alike are afraid that this bill will increase costs for the middle class. Food costs in particular are of concern. If the food harvesters and members of the food service industry (waiters) are getting paid more, won't food cost more? 

The answer (we know now) is NO. According to the Food Labor Research Center of UC Berkley, increasing the minimum wage to $9.80 will only cost the average american family an extra 10 cents a day. Grocery store food prices would increase by less than half a percent. Restaurant food would increase by less than one percent. In total, the average family would pay an extra $35 dollars a year.  

So, $35/year for an extra 100,000 jobs, $25 billion in GDP and a serious step towards food justice? I'll take it. 

This image was part of the grist.org review article and really resonated with me. At first I laughed, but then I became a little ashamed. I don't want to be preachy, but in my opinion it is morally wrong for the majority to reap the benefits of the minorities' work and not share the burden. Especially when the burden is 10 cents a day. 

http://grist.org/news/help-sponsor-food-justice-for-only-ten-cents-a-day/
http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/staff/jayaraman.shtml