Memphis Area Women’s Council

Task Force on Economic Self Sufficiency

A Living Wage

Living Wage is a Women’s Issue» Bulk of low-wage workers in US

are female

» Women comprise less than half U.S. workforce but 61% of workers earning minimum wage

» Two thirds of minimum wage earners are adults 20 years of age or older

» Work requirements of welfare reform apply overwhelmingly to adult women

Living Wage is a Memphis Women’s Issue

49 % of women in Memphis who work full-time earn less than $25,000 per year

Women in Memphis who work full-time earn 69% of what men earn

Women make up 51% of the Memphis workforce, but only 21% of those earning more than $75,000 per year

What is a Living Wage?

» Means self-sufficiency

» Amount family needs for basic necessities

» Takes $13.06/hour in Memphis for one adult and one child

» Memphis economy dominated by service jobs at $7 – $10/hour

What does that get you?

» Adequate child care

» Basic rental housing and utilities

» Adequate food prepared at home

» Five-year old car

» Subsidized health insurance

» Basic clothing and personal care products

» Payment of local, state and federal taxes

What’s missing? Long distance phone calls

Cable TV

Restaurant meals

Insurance for eye & dental care

Home equity

Vacations

Savings

Proposed Memphis Living Wage Ordinance

$10/hr with health insurance

$12/hr without health insurance

Workers covered are those under contract with city, working for companies that get tax abatements, and city employees

Working for local ordinance Mid-South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice,

many churches and faith based organizations

Labor union representatives

9 of 13 City Council candidates

Church Women United

Commercial Appeal Editorialin favor of ordinance

Memphis Area Women’s Council

Opposed to local ordinance Chamber of Commerce

Tennessee Municipal League

Brent Taylor and Scott McCormick

Hotel and Restaurant Association

Living Wage: Call to Action Attend rally May 8,

12 noon, City Hall Plaza, Main Street

Wear and pass out Mothers’ Day stickers

Attend key meetings of City Council

Wear MAWC Living Wage buttons

Living Wage: Call to Action

Identify women-owned (& other) businesses in support of Living Wage

Respond to Action Alerts

Calls and letters to City Council Members(go to www.memphiswomen.org)

Living Wage: Call to Action Invite presentations to

women’s groups, Sunday School, etc.

Sign post cards today!

Living Wage: Questions & discussion

www.memphiswomen.orgA new resource for the community

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