ASUI introduced a resolution in support of an initiative that would raise the Idaho minimum wage to $10 per hour.
The Idaho minimum wage is the same as the federal minimum wage, sitting at $7.25 per hour, while the tipped wage sits above the federal standard at $3.35 per hour. The Idahoans for a Fair Wage Initiative, which is the basis for the resolution, would raise the minimum wage to $13 per hour and the tipped minimum wage to $10. According to the resolution, this initiative comes after a 27.9% decrease in buying power since Idaho’s last minimum wage increase in 2009.
ASUI’s Director of Student Spaces Ivan Castillo cited his own experience as a service worker in his remarks in support of the resolution.
“Being someone who works in the service industry, I surprisingly made $3.35 an hour so you can imagine my paychecks (were) very low,” Castillo said. “I survived off tips … so I think this would be a great gesture for ASUI to support this initiative and this campaign to really rally behind what at the end of the day is (an economic injustice).”
Citing the Economic Policy Institute, the resolution also brings attention to the potential benefits of a wage increase, including bringing millions out of poverty and playing a significant role in narrowing the current racial pay gap.
“There’s a lot of states already across the country (with a) minimum wage more relative to the income in their state,” Director of Legislative Affairs Lydia McRoberts said. “I think a lot of what this initiative is trying to do is trying to not be super over-aggressive and raise the wages to something that’s not sustainable for small businesses, but instead raise to something that fits the standard of living for the state of Idaho.”
The initiative currently has a proposed implementation system that would gradually increase Idaho’s minimum wage over time, with the first increase raising the state minimum wage to $9.50 on July 1, 2023, eventually ending on July 1, 2026 with a new state minimum wage of $13.
During her remarks, McRoberts cited her research as an economic major which found an increased minimum wage would have a significant effect on a person’s ability to afford a home in the future, emphasizing the impact on recent and soon-to-be graduates.
“The findings from that research were pretty conclusive that raising the minimum wage above the federal minimum of $7.25 significantly increases the ability of people in that state to buy a home,” McRoberts said. “I think that’s also something to consider as we’re graduating from college, that’s the next big step for a lot of students.”
If successful, the campaign for an increased minimum wage would be placed on the ballot in the 2022 elections.
Additionally, in a look forward to finals week, ASUI voted to pass a resolution that will allocate funding towards “Finals Foodies” to help support students through finals week, with all leftover food going towards the Vandal Food Pantry.
Royce McCandless can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @roycemccandless