Tiffiny Lane
Des Moines
It’s a simple solution to a simple problem. When something becomes outdated, you upgrade. That’s why 14 states recognized lagging wages that weren’t keeping up with inflation and raised their workers’ wages at the beginning of this year. Sadly, Iowa was not one of those states. Instead, some of Iowa’s hardest working, but lowest paid laborers are left waiting for an upgrade and a living wage that will help provide for their families’ basic needs.
For the past seven years, Iowans have been earning the bare minimum wage allowed by the federal government: $7.25 an hour. Iowa politicians often boast about the state’s low unemployment rate. But, there’s nothing to brag about low-paying jobs that offer workers zero chance of upward mobility. Iowa’s workforce deserves better than the bare minimum, and a living wage is the only way to lift people out of poverty and ensure a thriving state economy.
Stagnant wages perpetuate the cycle of poverty and offer little hope of social mobility to our state’s lower classes. Wages stagnated at $7.25/hr. are outdated in today’s economy no matter where you live. Current wages haven’t kept up with the costs of childcare, car maintenance, utilities and other life necessities. Many low-wage workers are actively seeking better jobs and opportunities, but social mobility becomes nearly impossible when current wages aren’t enough to keep the phone turned on or power their electricity.
There are too many Iowans who work 40 hours or more a week and are still drowning in a sea of debt. People living from paycheck to paycheck are incapable of saving money for next month let alone their children’s future or their retirement. Many are reluctantly forced to rely on government assistance programs. They don’t want a handout, and for many, it’s a shot to their pride. But there’s little alternative when current wages aren’t enough to feed and clothe their children.
In 2016, Iowa can help combat the endless cycle of poverty by adopting a “living wage”. A living wage is not the bare minimum. It’s an adequate wage adjusted for inflation and the current costs of goods and services. Low-wage workers aren’t trying to break the backs of small businesses or thrust them into bankruptcy. They’re trying to save their families. They’re seeking hope, a brighter future and an opportunity to better themselves. 14 other states are giving their workers a raise this year, and it’s in all Iowans’ best interests to join them.