Should the Mid-South raise the minimum wage?
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Millions of workers are getting a raise on New Year’s Day.
That’s because 22 states are increasing the minimum wage in 2024.
However, none of those increases are happening across the Mid-South.
“It can’t continue like that,” said Margarita Lobato, a Frayser resident. “As high as it is to live here, especially in the city. Absolutely not. It has to go up.”
Tennessee and Mississippi follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which was set in 2009. Arkansas has a minimum wage of $11 per hour.
“I feel like a human being’s time is worth more than that,” said Parker Ward, an East Memphis resident. “People aren’t that passionate. Also, those places are often understaffed because people cannot justify working that much for that little amount of money.”
“We need to really think about a minimum wage that is a living wage,” said Elena Delavega, a professor of social work at the University of Memphis who has dedicated her life’s work to studying poverty.
Delavega told FOX13 that increasing the minimum wage would elevate thousands of families out of poverty, helping them afford critical necessities.
However, Kristina Garner, former executive director of the Republican Party of Shelby County told FOX13 that raising the minimum wage would hurt companies’ bottom lines, so prices would likely increase for everyone.
“Depending on how many workers you have, you would then look to cut expenses or raise prices,” Garner said. “Those are your choices.”
Garner did call on companies to cut executive pay and increase pay for the lowest paid workers in their organizations. She said increasing teacher pay would also help educators better motivate students to aspire for higher-paying jobs.
However, Lobato said families across Memphis are in dire need of support right now.
“There’s no wonder that everything is so messed up right now,” Lobato said. “There’s no wonder that everybody’s struggling. It’s no wonder everybody steals.”
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