California fast-food workers’ minimum wage win stirs up old economic debate
Business groups claim hard-fought $20 hourly wage victory will cause reduced hours, layoffs and price hikes – critics say otherwise
July 2023
Minimum hourly wage in swanky West Hollywood is the highest in the US
Business owners are concerned about growing labor costs they say could force them into financial hardship
April 2023
We must raise the minimum wage to a living wage
Bernie Sanders
In the richest country on earth, if you work 40 hours a week you shouldn’t have to live in poverty
March 2023
‘An inherent indignity’: the fight to get workers with disability a living wage
Advocates are highlighting a system of state tax credits across the US that allow employers to pay employees as low as $3 an hour
January 2023
Congress must listen to working families and overhaul healthcare, minimum wage and education
Bernie Sanders
Americans are united on some of the most important issues facing our country and they want government to address these challenges
November 2022
‘The success is inspirational’: the Fight for $15 movement 10 years on
Federal lawmakers failed to increase the minimum wage, but US workers made other gains, and they are setting their sights on new goals
What difference can a single dollar make?
Florida passed a law to incrementally achieve $15 an hour by 2026, exciting workers but driving fear into small business who worry they’ll pay the cost
‘$15 an hour is not enough’: US domestic workers rally on eve of midterms
Care workers and cleaners turn out in North Carolina, Nevada and Georgia to urge voters to elect officials who will listen to their needs
July 2022
Our unequal earth
‘How are we supposed to live?’: fast-food workers squeezed by inflation
Workers at big chains struggle to make ends meet as prices increase but their wages have not
April 2022
Most workers at large retail and food firms get less than $15 an hour – study
While CEOs earn multimillion-dollar salaries, most workers make significantly less than a living wage
March 2022
Long hours, dangerous chemicals: nail salon workers fight for industry change
Legislation in New York’s senate and assembly would create a council with powers to establish workplace standards
February 2022
Living in a woman's body
Living in a woman’s body: hospitality workers have always suffered abuse. In the pandemic, it got worse
Many women working in restaurants and bars say men routinely asked them to remove their masks in return for tips, putting their lives at risk
November 2021
West Hollywood votes to set highest minimum wage in US
The minimum hourly rate will rise to $17.64 by July 2023 after unanimous vote by California city’s council
August 2021
Nearly half of American workers don’t earn enough to afford a one-bedroom rental
About one in seven Americans fell behind on rent payments as housing costs continued to increase during the pandemic
July 2021
The Audio Long Read
From the archives: How much is an hour worth? The war over the minimum wage – podcast
From 2018: Some economists say minimum wage should be raised. Others say it’s already too high. But what if both sides are missing the point?
May 2021
Our unequal earth
The US restaurant industry is lacking in wages, not workers
Saru Jayaraman and Mark Bittman
US economy picks up just 266,000 April jobs as hiring slows sharply
April 2021
Joe Biden raises minimum wage to $15 an hour for federal contractors
President signed an executive order that will provide a pay bump to thousands of workers, some who make as little as $10.95 an hour
March 2021
‘You will not have your seat again’: how the Fight for $15 movement gained new momentum
Senate minimum wage battle could play out in midterm elections
