In Portland, OR, Starbucks workers can expect an average hourly pay of around $16.65 for a barista. This is crazy. A real minimum wage should be $30.43 per hour. Anything less is unacceptable.
Minimum wage would have been $26 an hour years ago if it had grown in line with productivity
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minimum-wage-26-dollars-economy-productivity/
Arguments for a $30.43 minimum wage
Living wage: A $30.43 minimum wage would better reflect the true value of labor and provide a “living wage” that allows families to meet basic needs and avoid poverty.
Increased consumer spending: Pumping more money into the hands of low-wage workers would stimulate the economy by boosting consumer demand, which could benefit local businesses and maintain hiring.
Economic fairness: Some argue that productivity has increased significantly since the 1960s, and the minimum wage has not kept pace. A higher minimum wage would ensure that workers share in the wealth they help create.
Reduced turnover: Higher wages can lead to lower employee turnover, which can reduce a company’s costs associated with hiring and training new staff.
State-level increases: Some states are moving toward higher minimum wages. For example, Washington has a bill to gradually increase its minimum wage to $25 per hour by 2031.
Corporate action: Some large companies, like Bank of America, have voluntarily raised their minimum wage to $25 per hour, seeing it as a way to attract and retain employees and boost the economy.
Productivity alignment: Some suggest that if the minimum wage had kept pace with productivity growth since 1968, it would be around $30.43 per hour today.
A Living Wage: $30.43 Minimum
