It’s not all bad news for American Workers

More needs to be done but wages seem to be going up

Like many progressives, I was disappointed when the Senate failed to include an increase to the minimum wage in March. Unlike many progressives, it wasn’t a “make or break” moment for me because a, that amendment didn’t go far enough (raising the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2025 is too little, too late), b. it can still be done and maybe the bill will be better — like $22/hour sooner than 2025, and c. that’s not the only way to raise wages.

There were things that were included in the Covid Relief Bill that have helped people. (Side note: Another area where my progressive friends and I have different thoughts is on the stimulus payments. Before the Georgia runoff, Joe Biden said he would raise the payment to $2,000 — which he meant as the $600 check people got under Trump plus a $1,400 check they would get under Biden. Not a second check of $2,000, which would raise the total to $2,600. Sorry.)

The Covid Relief did give people an additional $1,400 but it also extended and expanded unemployment benefits. People using that program could get $300 a week until September. That has had a big role in raising wages across the nation. This may be anecdotal but a friend of mine has been working in Alabama (his company sent him there — no his wages…