The proposal, called the “Living Wage for All,” would raise the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour.
Supporters of the bill are liberal groups ranging from the National Labor Federation to civil rights groups and economic justice organizations, including:
Unions such as Squad, SEIU, Teachers Federation, National Education Association (NEA), NAACP, People’s Center for Democracy, Fair Pay, Our Revolution, Alliance for a Just Society, Patriotic Billionaires, New Disabled South, Keystone Progress Education Fund, National Organization for Women (NOW).
Supporters say the wage hikes are needed to address the U.S. price crisis.
“There is no place in America where workers can live on less than $25 an hour,” a press release supporting the wage increase says.
What would a minimum wage look like if passed?
The bill would establish a two-step phase-in and require large, profitable companies to lead the transition, according to its sponsors. Large employers will reach $25 by 2031, while smaller employers will phase in the increase to reach $25 by 2038.
However, many free market and conservative groups oppose the measure.
“If we need to raise the minimum wage, why do these groups stop at just $25 an hour? Why not just $30 or $35 an hour?” said David Williams of the Taxpayer Protection Alliance.
The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but Williams points out that many states already have higher minimum wages, and many companies already pay more than the hourly wage required by some states.
“So what is this one-size-fits-all attitude?” Williams said. Of course, imposing obligations on small and medium-sized enterprises with very few employees will either force them to go out of business or force them to raise prices, which is a losing proposition either way. ”
