This is a petition to raise awareness of the importance of increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $10.10 an hour. This petition mainly focuses on the state of Georgia, but with your help, we can raise the minimum wage nationwide.
Right now, the minimum wage in the state of Georgia is $5.15. Because the Federal minimum wage is higher ($7.25), most employers in Georgia must pay their workers the Federal minimum wage. But, because of some exceptions to the minimum wage (small businesses, child-care centers, etc.), some employees are being paid as low as $5.15 an hour. There have been bills introduced into Georgia's House of Representatives and Senate regarding minimum wage, but none of them have even made it to a vote in their respective houses.
Affording basic living expenses is very difficult for minimum-wage workers. Let's look at the numbers. A person making minimum wage at a 40-hour-a-week job earns $1,150 per month after taxes. After paying for necessities including rent, transportation, clothing, etc., but without the cost of food because of SNAP (Food Stamps), this person would be $159 in debt every month. Because of this, many minimum-wage workers must work more than 40 hours a week to make ends meet.
Working more than forty hours a week often results in a loss of government assistance. For example, the SNAP (Food Stamps) program in Georgia has a maximum individual income of $15,301 in order to receive assistance. Since many minimum-wage workers work more than 40 hours a week, they actually get further behind by working more, as they lose the food assistance. Doesn't this seem wrong?
This is an issue that needs to be solved, and with your help, we can make people pay attention to this problem. We can let our congressmen and women know that we feel strongly about this issue, and together we can make a difference. Let's raise the minimum wage, one signature at a time.
Here's the link to a great video explaining the importance of increasing the minimum wage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=20&v=WXKLa2zfoTk
Updates
November 21, 2024
The stories coming in about trying to live on five dollars an hour are heartbreaking. Officials are still ignoring our emails but they cannot ignore these numbers forever.
November 21, 2024
Moving past this milestone proves people are finally paying attention. We are just getting started.
10 Comments
I fully support this petition. Minimum wage is a problem we all have to deal with.
My mother works minimum wage and it would be great if this change was to occur.
As someone living and working in Macon, GA, I want to share my experience to support this petition for a higher state minimum wage. I currently earn $13 an hour, which is significantly more than both the state and federal minimum, yet I still cannot afford basic necessities. My monthly expenses paint a clear picture of this struggle. Rent alone is around $1,000, and that doesn't include utilities like lights and water. Reliable transportation in Macon often means taking out a car loan, which, combined with necessary full-coverage insurance, costs me approximately $800 each month ($400 for the note and $400 for insurance). This totals $1,800 in essential expenses. My gross monthly income is $2,080, but after taxes (roughly $100 per paycheck), my net income is only $1,680. This leaves me with a $120 deficit every month, despite working hard and earning above the current minimum wage. Furthermore, because my income is slightly above the threshold, I don't qualify for food stamps, even though I'm clearly struggling to make ends meet. This isn't about wanting more than I deserve; it's about the fundamental need to afford housing, transportation, and basic utilities without falling into debt. Raising the state minimum wage is crucial for individuals like me who are working hard but still trapped in a cycle of financial insecurity. It's time our wages reflected the actual cost of living in Georgia.
Absolutely needs to be raised
This is a great idea!
Such an important issue! Glad I found this petition. Huge supporter
I am really happy that this issue is finally being taken up, it is really great to see someone to take the initiative to do this. I am definitely all for it!
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This is a petition to raise awareness of the importance of increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $10.10 an hour. This petition mainly focuses on the state of Georgia, but with your help, we can raise the minimum wage nationwide.
Right now, the minimum wage in the state of Georgia is $5.15. Because the Federal minimum wage is higher ($7.25), most employers in Georgia must pay their workers the Federal minimum wage. But, because of some exceptions to the minimum wage (small businesses, child-care centers, etc.), some employees are being paid as low as $5.15 an hour. There have been bills introduced into Georgia's House of Representatives and Senate regarding minimum wage, but none of them have even made it to a vote in their respective houses.
Affording basic living expenses is very difficult for minimum-wage workers. Let's look at the numbers. A person making minimum wage at a 40-hour-a-week job earns $1,150 per month after taxes. After paying for necessities including rent, transportation, clothing, etc., but without the cost of food because of SNAP (Food Stamps), this person would be $159 in debt every month. Because of this, many minimum-wage workers must work more than 40 hours a week to make ends meet.
Working more than forty hours a week often results in a loss of government assistance. For example, the SNAP (Food Stamps) program in Georgia has a maximum individual income of $15,301 in order to receive assistance. Since many minimum-wage workers work more than 40 hours a week, they actually get further behind by working more, as they lose the food assistance. Doesn't this seem wrong?
This is an issue that needs to be solved, and with your help, we can make people pay attention to this problem. We can let our congressmen and women know that we feel strongly about this issue, and together we can make a difference. Let's raise the minimum wage, one signature at a time.
Here's the link to a great video explaining the importance of increasing the minimum wage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=20&v=WXKLa2zfoTk
Updates
November 21, 2024
The stories coming in about trying to live on five dollars an hour are heartbreaking. Officials are still ignoring our emails but they cannot ignore these numbers forever.
November 21, 2024
Moving past this milestone proves people are finally paying attention. We are just getting started.
10 Comments
Families can't survive on $5.15 etc. an hour minimum wage should be the same Nation Wide.
I fully support this petition. Minimum wage is a problem we all have to deal with.
My mother works minimum wage and it would be great if this change was to occur.
As someone living and working in Macon, GA, I want to share my experience to support this petition for a higher state minimum wage. I currently earn $13 an hour, which is significantly more than both the state and federal minimum, yet I still cannot afford basic necessities. My monthly expenses paint a clear picture of this struggle. Rent alone is around $1,000, and that doesn't include utilities like lights and water. Reliable transportation in Macon often means taking out a car loan, which, combined with necessary full-coverage insurance, costs me approximately $800 each month ($400 for the note and $400 for insurance). This totals $1,800 in essential expenses. My gross monthly income is $2,080, but after taxes (roughly $100 per paycheck), my net income is only $1,680. This leaves me with a $120 deficit every month, despite working hard and earning above the current minimum wage. Furthermore, because my income is slightly above the threshold, I don't qualify for food stamps, even though I'm clearly struggling to make ends meet. This isn't about wanting more than I deserve; it's about the fundamental need to afford housing, transportation, and basic utilities without falling into debt. Raising the state minimum wage is crucial for individuals like me who are working hard but still trapped in a cycle of financial insecurity. It's time our wages reflected the actual cost of living in Georgia.
Absolutely needs to be raised
This is a great idea!
Such an important issue! Glad I found this petition. Huge supporter
I am really happy that this issue is finally being taken up, it is really great to see someone to take the initiative to do this. I am definitely all for it!
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Families can't survive on $5.15 etc. an hour minimum wage should be the same Nation Wide.