NAACP Reaffirms its Support for a Living Wage for All Workers

WHEREAS, the NAACP has supported a minimum wage and a living wage since the concept of a federal minimum wage was first introduced through federal legislation in the late 1930's; and 

WHEREAS, since the late 1970's, delegates to the NAACP national convention have passed resolutions reaffirming our support for a national minimum wage, a living wage, or both, at least 15 times; and 

WHEREAS, most recently, the NAACP supported an increase in the minimum wage in 2013; and 

WHEREAS, the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and contrary to stereotypes, low-wage workers whose pay scales are affected by the federal minimum wage are overwhelmingly adults, many who support families; and 

WHEREAS, the minimum wage does not provide a living wage for most American families; and 

WHEREAS, a "living wage" is defined as a "a wage that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living"; it is often higher than the minimum wage, and it also varies from state-to-state, depending on the cost of living and applicable taxes in each state; and 

WHEREAS, a typical family of four (two working adults, two children) needs to work more than 3 full-time minimum-wage jobs (a 68-hour work week per working adult) to earn a living wage; and 

WHEREAS, the living wage varies based on the cost of living and taxes where families live. Families of four (with two working adults, two children) in the North ($56,179) and West ($53,505) have higher median living wages before taxes than the South ($49,167), and Midwest ($48,496). 

THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP reaffirm its long- standing support of a living wage as a minimum wage for all workers.