Last week, Walmart stunned the world of retail by announcing that it will give half-million low-wage workers a raise in April to $9 an hour, with the promise of $10 an hour by February of next year. Low pay has created image problems for America's biggest private employer, while reduced unemployment means new competition for workers. But even $10 is hardly enough to support a family, and labor advocates are pushing for $15. As some cities and states increase the minimum wage, we hear what life is like at the lowest end of the pay scale.
Walmart, the Minimum Wage and the Working Poor
More
- Our Walmart
- 'Left Right and Center' on Walmart's increasing wages
- Eidelson on Walmart's decision to give up money rather than power
- National Federation of Independent Business opposition to 'job killing' federal minimum wage hike
- Congressional Budget Office on effects of a minimum-wage increase on employment, family income
- Cooper on importance of raising minimum wage to safety net programs
- EPI President Lawrence Mishel's House testimony on the challenges of raising wages, creating jobs
- David Neumark on minimum wage increasing long-term job loss
- David Card, Alan Krueger study on minimum wages and employment in NJ/PA fast food industry (1992)
Credits
Guests:
- Josh Eidelson - Bloomberg BusinessWeek - @josheidelson
- Linda Tirado - author - @KillerMartinis
- Karen Harned - National Federation of Independent Business Legal Center - @NFIB
- David Cooper - Economic Policy Institute - @metaCoop