By: Emily Wales, FellowPosted on March 31, 2014 Issues: Economic Justice Job Quality Minimum Wage

Raising the minimum wage isn’t just about making ends meet. It’s about equality.

Women and people of color are disproportionately represented in minimum wage work, and an increase in the federal minimum wage could make a huge difference in the lives of these workers and their families. It could mean lifting families out of poverty, providing more stable base incomes for low-wage workers, and taking steps to close the wage gap. But it all starts with action.

Organizations around the country are joining together this week to highlight the benefits of raising the minimum wage and to send Congress a simple message: It’s time to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010/S. 460). Once it’s fully implemented, the act would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, increase the tipped minimum cash wage to 70 percent of the regular minimum wage, and index both wages to keep up with inflation.

We’ve told you before how critical these changes are for women and families, and today – on “Equality Monday” during this week of action – we’re highlighting our updated analysis about the benefits of raising the wage women and families. Check out our resources, including a new fact sheet on 10 Reasons Raising the Tipped Minimum Wage Is a Women’s Issue, to learn more about how a hike in the minimum wage would impact the lives of low-wage workers – and why it’s important to take action now. 

Already, 2014 has been a big year for efforts to raise the minimum wage. We’ve seen states like Connecticut and Delaware leading the way by raising their own minimum wages, and new reports like the one recently issued by the White House reveal that raising the wage can help reduce the wage gap and combat poverty. But many workers around the country won’t see those benefits without action in Congress. And for those workers and their families, change couldn’t come soon enough. 

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