Passed 6/3/2013
Whereas, poverty is a serious problem that has become worse during the current depression; jobs and wages are not growing fast enough to pull us out of this depression any time soon; and we have the power and moral responsibility to alleviate this great suffering; and
Whereas, companies in this current economic crisis are not hiring or giving wage increases because they see insufficient demand for their goods and services; the demand is low because too many people are holding back spending due to unemployment, low wages, or heavy debt; a higher minimum wage will bring up the base of the salary scale to give consumers greater purchasing power; and the increased sales that come from that purchasing enable businesses’ higher profit to allow for increased wages and increased hiring; and
Whereas, historical evidence shows no discernible linkage between increasing wages and inflation, whether the increased wages are the minimum wage or soaring CEO salaries; in 1968, the Federal minimum wage in 2013 dollars was $10.68 per hour and the State’s was $11.02; neither of these caused an adverse effect on employment; neither the State nor Federal minimum wage has kept up with the cost of living; and the current State and Federal minimums provide American workers neither income above the poverty level nor a living wage which would allow these workers the basic human rights of all individuals;
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley supports a State and Federal minimum wage of $11.00 per hour indexed to cost of living, and the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley further supports a living wage enabling workers to afford life’s basic necessities of food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education; and
Be It Further Resolved, the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley will send this resolution to the President, the Governor, and our State and Federal legislators representing the San Fernando Valley