Hey, what do you know! It turns out that raising the minimum wage … raises pay for low-wage workers. Somehow, in the United States of America, this needs to be said.
The Economic Policy Institute looked at wage growth for the lowest-paid 10 percent of workers across the states, and it turns out that, for states that raised their minimum wage at least once between 2013 and 2018, it “was more than 50 percent faster than in states without any minimum wage increases (13.0 percent vs. 8.4 percent).” The effect was bigger for women than for men, which makes sense, since women are likely to be paid less.
Congressional Republicans continue to block an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 since 2009.
● Not a surprise: Philly charter schools serve more affluent, advantaged students than rest of district.
The report, issued Thursday, said city charter schools enrolled a smaller share of economically disadvantaged students — 54 percent, compared with 70 percent in district schools. It also found fewer students with severe disabilities and one-third as many English language learners in charters, along with higher levels of racial isolation.
● I missed this a couple of weeks ago. If you also missed it, read it now: The $15 minimum wage doesn't just improve lives. It saves them.
● Whole Foods cuts workers' hours after Amazon introduces minimum wage.
● With General Motors closing four plants, workers have an awful choice: Should they follow their jobs hundreds of miles away from their families and lives, or stay and risk not finding new jobs that will actually pay the bills?
● MLB players love our caps. The people who make them for us deserve fair wages.
