2. The Minimum Wage is the amount mandated by law that an employer must pay for hourly work. The first Minimum Wage policy was established in Massachusetts in 1912 to stabilize wages for women. 13 other states followed suit. The first Federal Minimum Wage was set in 1933.

3. The Minimum Wage is mandated first by federal law, then by state and municipal laws. The Federal Minimum Wage today is $7.25. This means that the US Government only guarantees that a full-time worker will make at least roughly $15,000 annually. That income is below the Federal poverty line. (US Census Data) In 2016, only two states and the District of Columbia have a Minimum Wage at or above $10/hour. California and New York are the first two states to pass legislation that will enact a $15/hour Minimum Wage by 2022. (New York Times)

4. 100% of the income growth in the US since the 1980s has gone to the top 10% of earners. (Capital, by Thomas Piketty) Wage increases have not kept up with inflation and as a result full- time work does not guarantee that a family will not live in poverty and be dependent on safety net programs to survive. Low wages have caused the middle class in the US to shrink substantially over the past 30 years. The effects of this are detrimental to our economy and growth. 70% of the US economy is consumer spending, fueled by the middle class. (US Dept. of Commerce)

5. 1.Spread the word about raising the minimum wage and encourage friends and family to ask businesses and politicians to raise wages. 2.Join organizations like Fair Shot to organize communities and advocate for a higher minimum wage in Massachusetts. 3.Share personal stories and experiences through social media and op-ed writing in local papers.

6. @FairShot @FairShotForAll /FairShotMass