The Fight for $15 is a grassroots movement of low-wage workers that seeks to undo decades of wage stagnation and growing inequality by raising the wage floor to more robust levels. The movement, which began in New York City in 2012 when fast food workers walked out of their jobs to demand $15 and a union, has spread from coast to coast, shaping the national conversation around wages and inequality, and helping push through dozens of state and local minimum wage policies.
Building on the momentum of the ‘Fight for $15 and a union’ movement led by Black workers and workers of color, The Raise the Wage Act of 2023 would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour by 2028, narrowing racial and gender pay gaps.
Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about minimum wage laws and policies. Start your research here.
No one who works for a living should have to live in or near poverty. Too many lawmakers and policymakers just don't get it. But when confronted with the stories of real people struggling just to make ends meet, they can't hide behind the same old tired excuses. Read the stories of people affected by poverty wages.
Minimum wage laws in the United States date back to the early 20th century. There's a long and rich history around the fight for a livable wage floor—one that carries forward to this day. Get the backstory.
RaiseTheMinimumWage.org is a project of the National Employment Law Project. We proudly partner with national and local advocates to raise the wage floor to improve the lives of low-wage workers and families across America. Learn more about our work.
The National Employment Law Project is headquartered in New York, with offices in Washington DC, California, and Washington State. Get in touch with us.