1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha, and welcome to Steph. 2 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: I've never told your production of I Heart Radio. All right, Annie, 3 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: I have to ask you a question. You infer my question. 4 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: Have you ever had a minimum wage job? Yes? Yes, 5 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: what was it? I think I talked about this before. 6 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: I kind of worked in blond Care for a while. 7 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: It wasn't super on the up and up, but I 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: made a minimum wage there. And then when I was 9 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: at Georgia Tech, I worked in the fancy boxes and 10 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: I stored the food and so much alcohol. Whoa, And 11 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: then I got anything people needed, and then I cleaned 12 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: the box that I made sure no one went home, 13 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: no one drove drunk. And that was a minimum wage job. Okay, 14 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: that's nice. Yeah. So my first job was the minimum 15 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: age job, and I was fourteen. I think I've talked 16 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: about this before. On the cusp of being in fifteen, 17 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: I definitely had to have it signed off. And I 18 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 1: worked at Dairy Queen. So I was very excited. I've 19 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: worked a majority of my you know life, essentially, so 20 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: I got that. I worked at the Pickli Wiggly, Yes 21 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: I did, and I was working there for minimum wage. 22 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: And then as I was about to quit because I 23 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: was going to go cheerlead. Oh yes, yes, so many, 24 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: so many things. They bumped my pay like a dollar 25 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: twenty to try to see me because that was that good, 26 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: y'all that just at the Piggy Wiggly. I was killing 27 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: it at the Pickli Wiggly. And then I moved on 28 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: to doing daycare, which wasn't minimum wage but close to. 29 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: And then yeah, in college, I worked at a bookstore 30 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: and that was minimal wage, but I did it because 31 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: you had discounts on books, yes, and that was the cave. 32 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: But yeah, so if you can't tell, we are talking 33 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: about the minimum wage. So if you've been watching the 34 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: news and like many people in the US, have been 35 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: waiting for someone to do something in regards to the 36 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: stimulus package. And though there's so many things that are 37 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: happening with all the details of the package and the 38 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: continue negotiations between the different parts of the government, the 39 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: package has passed from the House onto the Senate as 40 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: a today. So we're still waiting March for putting a 41 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: date on this because you know, when this releases, who knows, 42 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:28,839 Speaker 1: who knows? And within this this whole large conversation, one 43 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: thing has been a contentious issue, and that is the 44 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: raising of the minimum wage or the Raise the Wage Act, 45 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: which has been introduced before and as of today it 46 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: has been taken out of the package as it has 47 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: been sent the Senate for even more negotiations. But we 48 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: will definitely be seeing more debate over it as officials 49 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: from Congress like Bernie Sanders and AOC are continuing to 50 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: fight for it. So you may be asking why are 51 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: we talking about this specifically, Well, we've recently covered how 52 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: the loss of jobs and overall impact of employment has 53 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: affected mainly women, and no surprise, raising minimum wage it 54 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: would also impact women more as well. Ding ding ding. 55 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: But before we talk about these specifics, we wanted to 56 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 1: break down some facts and figures. And y'all, when I 57 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: say facts and figures, I mean as much information as 58 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: we could get. But they're all very contradictory and they're 59 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: all a little different is according to who's saying it 60 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: or who's showing it or who's doing the study. Just 61 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: to put that there, that little caveat there as well. 62 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: But in regards to the minimum wage standards in the US, yes, 63 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: and I will say I went to college for among 64 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: other things, international affairs, and I had to take like 65 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: macro micro economics classes, and it really does depend like 66 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: it is a fiercely like economic theoretical thought experiment a 67 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: lot of times and very political and depending on like 68 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: what theory you you believe in, it can absolutely get 69 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: very very confusing and messy. But okay. So, the current 70 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: federal minimum wage in the US is seven dollars and 71 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: twenty five cents, which was raised from six dollars and 72 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: fifty five cents in two thousand nine. And if you 73 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: were like a quick calculation of when that wasn't was 74 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: twelve years ago. It feels like much longer, but twelve years. However, 75 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: at least twenty nine states have already increased their minimum wage, 76 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: including Washington, d c. Which raised there's been won wages 77 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: this year to fifteen dollars, and for some more examples, 78 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: Washington State which is just increased their minimum wage from 79 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: twelve dollars to thirteen fifty and say it's like New York, 80 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: which are working to increase every year until it hits 81 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: fifteen dollars, and it would not be an overnight fix, 82 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: but a slow increase as many of the states have 83 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: done with it. Finally, hitting the fifteen dollar mark, and 84 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: also just a reminder, it calls for an increase for 85 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: tipped workers as well, who were paid two dollars in 86 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: thirteen Oh I forgot to Yeah I had that job 87 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: too for two weeks and then I broke my ankle 88 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: and then they never paid and they never fired me. 89 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: So maybe I'm still working at the Longhorn in Dawson Pool, Georgia. 90 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I guess orpheus. I was technic making minimum wage, 91 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: but my tips always were so good that it it 92 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: didn't didn't. I didn't think about it that way, but yeah, right, yes, 93 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: So these workers, tip workers who are paid two dollars 94 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: in thirteen cents unless they don't meet the minimum wage 95 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: amount after those tips, right, so they'll increase it to 96 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: the actual minimum wage because they're required to by law. 97 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: But some larger corporations have also moved forward with raising 98 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: minimum wage as well, including Target Costco At Starbucks, and 99 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: even Amazon. But don't get it started with all the 100 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: other issues of these companies. Will save those for a 101 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: different episode, maybe if you want us to. I mean, 102 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: of course, big business will less likely be affected in 103 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: raising the wages for their workers, as many of them. Specifically, 104 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: the ones we previously mentioned are racking up billions of 105 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: dollars and profits. However, many are arguing that the smaller 106 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: businesses will be the ones that are affected and may 107 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: not be able to remain open if wages weren't increased. 108 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: But again, there's a lot of back and forth about 109 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: what those numbers could actually be rights. Some research says 110 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: that the private sector could cost over teen thousand jobs, 111 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: while another study says that it could increase job growth 112 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: and that past increases of the minimum wage have made 113 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: no real difference and did not result in job projection. 114 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: So to say that the research seems to vary by 115 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: the people are entities or corporations or whatever are presenting 116 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: it is not wrong. But how does this specifically affect 117 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,799 Speaker 1: women in the United States? Well, As we talked about previously, 118 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: a majority of what are considered essential workers, including teachers, caregivers, 119 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: hospital workers, and service industry workers are mainly made up 120 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: of women, and if the minimum wage was increased, it 121 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: would affect up to nineteen million women, which makes up 122 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: to six the workers affected, and not surprisingly, Black and 123 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: Latina women make up a majority of those workers. And 124 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 1: then when we look at the tipped workers women make 125 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: up at least two thirds of those workers. And again, 126 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: not surprisingly, Latina women within the tipped workers group make 127 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: less than white non Hispanic men and te p less 128 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: than white non Hispanic women, and increasing minimum wage for 129 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: them would make a massive difference for these marginalized communities, 130 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: literally over raise for that community. And that's a significant 131 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: amount of money. Yes, and not only would it allow 132 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: for essential workers to have a little more financial freedom, 133 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: and by the way, we mean just a little, because 134 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: we also know that the cost of living is different 135 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: for many due to location, family size, or even just 136 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: overall situation, and the fifteen dollars is not a living 137 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: wage for some. Just that put that out there, but 138 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: it would help actually narrow the gender gap as well. 139 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: The mere ability to bring up the lower paying job 140 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: as well as tipping jobs would allow for a closure 141 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: of that ginger gap, which has been a giant wage 142 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: gap as we know, whether due to the type of 143 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: job offered or the type of starting pay. Yes, um, 144 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: and we've done past episodes on that if you want 145 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: to check those out right. Overall, though, we are still seeing, yes, 146 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: this kind of back and forth with what would help 147 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: or what may hurt the economy. There are a lot 148 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: of positives to this whole thing, including that it could 149 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: pull up to one point three million households above the 150 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: pottery line and stimulate the economy your increased spending. It 151 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: could even help with satisfaction and h oppertainment, which could 152 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,239 Speaker 1: help individual companies save money as well. Right, and also 153 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: we've forgot to mention that this would actually help people 154 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: with disabilities who are in that workfield, in essential work 155 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: field as well, because it would actually be able to 156 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: close some of the wage gap for them as well. 157 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: And and we haven't talked about that as specifically, but 158 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: it is pretty significant um and they are definitely a 159 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: part of that marginalized communities that are heavily affected and 160 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: would be affected if there was an increase in a 161 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: positive way. But of course, with this being pulled out 162 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: of the current stimulus packet, there is more work and 163 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: debate to be had, and it's going to be many 164 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: organizations are still pushing for the Senate to add an 165 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: amendment or for the VP to use our power to 166 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: push the amendment. However, as we know, things are not 167 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: cut and dry and more complicated than it would seem 168 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: on the surface. No, there's a lot of debate about 169 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: what can be down with what can't be done. We 170 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,719 Speaker 1: know that even the Democrats hold the majority, some of 171 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: the Democrats are opposed to raising the minimum wage as well, 172 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: so that does not help in getting those numbers. Um 173 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: and this has been a big conversation, and I know, 174 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,319 Speaker 1: any you're not talking about the fact that there's definite 175 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: organizations talking about protesting, yeah, and or actually making some 176 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: kind of action to show that they are overwhelmingly supporting 177 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: the rays. And according to one study, at least I said, 178 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: I think over of the Republicans who are surveyed actually 179 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: was in favor of raising the minimum wage as well. Yeah, 180 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 1: it seems to have high public support, pretty high public support. 181 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: So we shall see. We shall see what happens in 182 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: the meantime. Listeners, please email us any topics you think 183 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: that we should cover. We always live hearing from you. 184 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: Our email is Stuff Media, Mom Stuff at I Heart 185 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: media dot com. You can also find us on Instagram 186 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: at Stuff I've Never Told You are on Twitter at 187 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: mom Stuff Podcast Things. As always to a super producer, Christina, 188 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: Thank you Christine, and thanks to you for listening. Steff 189 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: I never told you Protective I Heard Radio. For more 190 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: podcast from I Hear Radio, visit that Heart, renew app 191 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: Apple podcast all wherever you listen to your favorite shows. 192 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: H