Time for a living wage at Samford
Megan Maine
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Opinion
Living wage. Virtually everyone in this day and age is familiar with this phrase, whether because of an Economics 101 lecture or because of CNN's nightly news. But what is a living wage? Are there truly advantages to it? And how can Samford students be involved to insure that justice through a living wage is being met for all workers?
The definition of a living wage is simple: a wage sufficient for a worker and his or her family to live comfortably without relying on government assistance. Every job offers that, right? Unfortunately, the response to this question is a resounding "no"; earning a living wage is not as widespread as one would initially believe.
Currently, Alabama is one of five U.S. states without a minimum wage regulation, meaning a majority of employees earn the federally fixed minimum wage of $6.55. To put this into perspective, an individual working 40 hours a week will make roughly $13,100 a year, which is a mere $2,270 more than the 2009 Federal Poverty Level for a household consisting of one individual.
It has been estimated that, in order to make ends meet without the use of federal assistance, one would need to earn a projected $1,700 a month, or over $20,000 a year. However, in sticking to the fixed minimum wage, reaching these numbers is near impossible.
The advantages of earning a living wage are numerous but can be seen most prominently within the lives of individuals and within the economy as a whole. For the worker, a reduced reliance on federal programs, such as welfare and food stamps, inevitably decreases the amount of stress for that individual.
This diminution in anxiety can lead to improvements in health, including fewer sick days, less depression and reductions in the limitation of daily activities. Additionally, individuals earning a set living wage will gain the opportunity to terminate second and third jobs, creating supplementary time for family or personal obligations.
The use of the living wage can also be viewed as advantageous for the economy. During the economic recession, any form of a stimulus is ushered in with open arms, and by receiving an increased amount of pay, individuals gain the ability to invest in their communities. This investment generates an overall boost in a city's economic status, thus creating benefits for persons of every class.
Businesses, cities and states also profit from the living wage. A majority of studies exploring the implementation of a living-wage ordinance have shown little increase in cost for cities, areas, and employers, which can be viewed as valuable for the entire community. Additionally, these studies have shown an improvement in worker morale and turnover rates, both of which lead to the reduction of overall costs for companies.
Thus, the living wage is tremendously valuable to any community that chooses to enact it. But do we, as students at a Christian university, hold the moral obligation to set a living wage standard for all workers, including those workers at Samford?
University Ministries' Social Justice Coordinator Jayme Cloninger supports both of these elements passionately, stating, "As Samford students we have the unique opportunity to capture the attention of the Samford administration regarding the issue of living wage. It may seem taunting, but if we truly value every individual and we see a need of someone on our campus shouting for a remedy, there is no excuse to stand by silently."
So, what do you think? Should Samford students vocalize their opinions about this issue or should we stand by silently while others grow hoarse in shouting for a change?
Megan Main is a sophomore journalism major from Davidson, N.C. She can be reached at mmain@samford.edu.
The definition of a living wage is simple: a wage sufficient for a worker and his or her family to live comfortably without relying on government assistance. Every job offers that, right? Unfortunately, the response to this question is a resounding "no"; earning a living wage is not as widespread as one would initially believe.
Currently, Alabama is one of five U.S. states without a minimum wage regulation, meaning a majority of employees earn the federally fixed minimum wage of $6.55. To put this into perspective, an individual working 40 hours a week will make roughly $13,100 a year, which is a mere $2,270 more than the 2009 Federal Poverty Level for a household consisting of one individual.
It has been estimated that, in order to make ends meet without the use of federal assistance, one would need to earn a projected $1,700 a month, or over $20,000 a year. However, in sticking to the fixed minimum wage, reaching these numbers is near impossible.
The advantages of earning a living wage are numerous but can be seen most prominently within the lives of individuals and within the economy as a whole. For the worker, a reduced reliance on federal programs, such as welfare and food stamps, inevitably decreases the amount of stress for that individual.
This diminution in anxiety can lead to improvements in health, including fewer sick days, less depression and reductions in the limitation of daily activities. Additionally, individuals earning a set living wage will gain the opportunity to terminate second and third jobs, creating supplementary time for family or personal obligations.
The use of the living wage can also be viewed as advantageous for the economy. During the economic recession, any form of a stimulus is ushered in with open arms, and by receiving an increased amount of pay, individuals gain the ability to invest in their communities. This investment generates an overall boost in a city's economic status, thus creating benefits for persons of every class.
Businesses, cities and states also profit from the living wage. A majority of studies exploring the implementation of a living-wage ordinance have shown little increase in cost for cities, areas, and employers, which can be viewed as valuable for the entire community. Additionally, these studies have shown an improvement in worker morale and turnover rates, both of which lead to the reduction of overall costs for companies.
Thus, the living wage is tremendously valuable to any community that chooses to enact it. But do we, as students at a Christian university, hold the moral obligation to set a living wage standard for all workers, including those workers at Samford?
University Ministries' Social Justice Coordinator Jayme Cloninger supports both of these elements passionately, stating, "As Samford students we have the unique opportunity to capture the attention of the Samford administration regarding the issue of living wage. It may seem taunting, but if we truly value every individual and we see a need of someone on our campus shouting for a remedy, there is no excuse to stand by silently."
So, what do you think? Should Samford students vocalize their opinions about this issue or should we stand by silently while others grow hoarse in shouting for a change?
Megan Main is a sophomore journalism major from Davidson, N.C. She can be reached at mmain@samford.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
ravi
posted 5/06/09 @ 6:08 PM CST
While I agree that a living wage is a worthy goal. When costs of running a business increase in conjunction with the cost of wages--inflation soon follows. (Continued…)
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