Six Reasons to Support the Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage

1. ECONOMIC GROWTH: Raising the minimum wage is a proven way for cities to improve living standards without adversely impacting the economy or business community. Santa Fe, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque have raised their citywide minimum wage and their economies continue to thrive.

2. HUMANITARIAN VALUES: People shouldn’t have to choose between rent, groceries and medicine. Families in Greensboro have to earn more than three times the current minimum wage ($6.15/hr) just to meet the Living Income Standard.

3. DEMOCRATIC PROCESS: Communities should have the ability to decide a minimum standard for wages. Real democracy happens when ordinary people exercise control over the issues that effect their lives. The citizens initiative process enables a more direct democracy that we should engage and expand.

4. MORALITY: Everyone who works should earn a descent wage. In a community as wealthy as ours, it is morally reprehensible that working people would not have their basic needs met.

5. CONSUMER IMPACT: Raising the minimum wage to $9.82/hour would have very little effect on the costs of products and services -- no more than 1/2 a percent to 2% overall. Experience in other communities that have raised the minimum wage above the surrounding area have shown that this is easily covered by a combination of small price increases, increased productivity from happier, more stable workers, and increased sales to people with greater spending power.

6. WILL OF THE PEOPLE: Over eight thousand members of the Greensboro community have already signed on to support raising the minimum wage. Let the people’s voice be heard!