Closing The Wage Gap Archives

Lawmakers vote to repeal minimum wage exemption for nannies and maids

By Ned Oliver February 28, 2020 Virginia lawmakers finalized passage of legislation Friday that repeals minimum wage exemptions for domestic workers such as maids and nannies. The advocacy group Care in Action, which advocates nationally for the workers, said Virginia is the first state in the South to adopt such protections. “We’ve been waiting for […]

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Teacher pay: Nashville schools plans additions to its $950 million budget. But can it fit in teacher pay?

Closing The Wage Gap / Karl Kramer

By Jason Gonzales February 26, 2020 As the Nashville public schools board works to refine its budget ask for next year, the question lingers whether teacher pay will be included. The $950 million budget proposal for the 2020-21 school year includes only what is necessary to maintain operations— an increase of $28 million over last

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Bringing attention to the minimum wage in Texas

Closing The Wage Gap / Karl Kramer

By Ashley Peoples February 26, 2020 Texas has not raised its minimum wage in 10 years while 21 states raised theirs at the start of 2020. According to an article published on March 5, 2019 by The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), a preemption law over minimum wage was passed in Texas in 2003.

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Fight for $15 ‘Gives Me Hope’: How Low-Wage Workers Rose Up Against Stagnant Pay: NPR

Closing The Wage Gap / Karl Kramer

By Alyna Selyukh February 26, 2020 Kim Thomas felt drawn to being a home health aide after caring for her own ailing mother. Human dignity, she says, can be simple, like a bath and a favorite snack. When Thomas first started visiting homes to care for patients, she made $7 an hour. That was in

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Target raised wages. Then it cut workers’ hours and doubled their workload

Closing The Wage Gap / Karl Kramer

By Micheal Sainato February 27, 2020 Adam Ryan, 31, has worked at Target in Christiansburg, Virginia, for three years. He works additional jobs whenever he’s able to, but is regularly scheduled only 20 hours per week at Target, despite having open availability. “I have to live with my family because I can’t afford rent on

Target raised wages. Then it cut workers’ hours and doubled their workload Read More »