Minimum Wage Facts

$5.15: hourly earnings of a minimum wage worker

$10,712: yearly earnings of a minimum wage worker before taxes

9: years since the federal minimum wage has been raised

40%: proportion of minimum wage workers who are their family's sole breadwinner

70%: proportion of minimum wage workers who are adults

464,000: number of Michigan workers who make less than $7.15 an hour

Overview

    Congress and the President have abandoned minimum wage workers and their families.  Stuck at $5.15 an hour for nine long years, the federal minimum wage – only $10, 712 a year – now buys less than it did 40 years ago. While other costs have risen, wages for most workers have remained flat since the 1970's-- Americans work more hours than any other nation, yet our work is worth less and less. ACORN takes part in a never-ending struggle to promote a fair wages at the local, state and federal levels so that working families can enjoy a better quality of life.   

    Two years ago, ACORN won a major victory in Florida by passing Amendment 5, which raised the state minimum wage to $6.15 with guaranteed raises in the future for inflation.  In a massive campaign, ACORN won 71% of the popular vote on this ballot measure, and as a result, 800,000 workers received a raise.  ACORN and our allies across the country have taken a lesson from Florida--  Americans believe that the minimum wage has been too low for too long.  We are taking our experience in Florida, and moving forward with ballot initiatives that will raise the minimum wage in Michigan, Ohio, and Arizona.

Legislative Dead-Ends

    Congress once again failed to increase the minimum wage this March, by voting down multiple pieces of legislation that would have guaranteed workers a small raise, as it has for the past eight years.  As a result of Congress' inaction, sixteen states and the District of Columbia have raised their own minimum wage above the federal level – boosting incomes for struggling families and stimulating the economy. 

    In Michigan, ACORN circulated pledges to state legislators, asking them to commit to raising the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation.  Many signed, however, the leadership of the state house has refused to even allow a vote on the issue.  "Minimum wage is a non-starter," said Craig DeRoche, speaker of the Michigan State House (R-Novi). In fact, the leadership of the state House of Representatives wouldn't even let minimum wage legislation out of committee for a vote this summer.  

Ballot Initiative: Let The People Decide!

With our options in the legislature exhausted, ACORN and our allies in the Michigan Needs a Raise Coalition are pressing ahead with our plan to raise the wage in Michigan. As in Florida, we have been forced to take the issue directly to the people of Michigan through a ballot initiative.

To bring this issue before the people, Michigan Needs a Raise must acquire at least 350,000 signatures by mid-June. Signature collection will start January 17, and with a little luck, voters will see our amendment on the ballot in November, 2006. ACORN members, students, union members, civil rights groups, peace and justice groups, faith organizations, and many others are all cooperating to distribute the petition in their communities.

                                     The Smart Move for Michigan                             

Compare the states that have raised their wage with the rest of the country:

• Small business growth is twice as fast

• Employment grows 1.5% more quickly

• Inflation is comparable

These positive effects can occur because of increased demand in the local economy-- when minimum wage workers get a raise, they spend it in the community.