Washington already has the nation's highest level of $ 9.19 an hour minimum wage. Now, there is a push in Seattle, at least, make it $ 15.
This would mean that the retail fast food workers, clerks, baristas and other minimum wage workers will get what protesters claim they closed in May and a few other cities in the restaurant called when they show in the country in July.
So far, the city council and mayoral candidates have said they will think this is a famously liberal city. One said, however, it may not be soon.
Venture capitalist Nick Hanauer says there is no time to waste. The country needed was money in the hands of ordinary consumers. "A higher minimum wage is a very simple and elegant solution to a drop in demand, is the signature feature of China's economic death spiral," he said.
Some business advocates say that a higher minimum wage will make it harder for companies to survive in Seattle. They cited Wal-Mart, but refused to accept the Washington, DC, decided to raise the minimum wage to $ 12.50 per hour, the big box stores.
Higher minimum wage to eliminate low-wage work, because it is small businesses how to reduce costs, and ultimately hurt the people should benefit, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
More than 150,000 workers earning the national minimum wage, about $ 15,080 a year two homes below the federal poverty line - $ 50. San Francisco currently has the highest minimum wage for all workers was $ 10.50 per hour.
Economist at the University of California, Davis, Chris shellfish disagree a higher minimum wage will lead to job losses.
"There may be some work on the impact of those small businesses themselves," he said. But in the whole economy, when you increase the income of low-wage workers, creating jobs, because these workers are likely to increase the demand for goods and services consumed their extra income.
Tony also suspect that a higher minimum wage will affect the price, enough to scare away consumers. His research shows that even a substantial increase in wages as Seattle proposal, only 4-5% impact on prices.
One of the potential growth of wages by Caroline Durocher, 21 years old, he has been committed to low-wage work, because high school. She has been working in the Seattle metro restaurant about a month, because she was fired shortly after the other strand in the minimum wage strike.
"I have a colleague who is a single mother. Durocher, said:" Honestly, I do not know how they do it, her father sleeping on the couch.
City Council members Nick Licata do not want to get any official traction problem as soon as possible. The Council's most liberal member of, he said, there are other issues will be addressed in order to help low-wage workers, including wage theft and affordable housing.
Push forward, before they can actually pass would kill his ideas, he said.
Seattle City Council candidate's campaign topic of her heart.
Economists Ksha ma Sawant is based on her campaign similar efforts in New York City and Washington, DC, although her chances of getting elected is not great, she is pushing the minimum wage increase, and said that she heard about it campaign trail.
Another method, but politically powerful, weekly, strangers, shared her idea.
"The idea has been a huge echo," she said.
 



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