Labor Standards

The ranks of the working poor now exceed 30 million, driven in part by the steep erosion of wage standards throughout the economy. Since 1968, the real value of the federal minimum wage has fallen by close to 40%, leaving it far too low to sustain working families. In 2007, the new Congress began the process of restoring the minimum wage by approving the first increase in 10 years. But there is much ground to catch up and plans are underway to build on this first step with further increases.

States and cities are leading the way in rebuilding a strong wage floor for low-income workers. Over the past decade, dozens of states and more than one hundred cities have passed minimum wage and living wage laws to raise the incomes of working families and ensure that public dollars do not create jobs that keep communities in poverty.

The Brennan Center is a leader in supporting this national movement, helping community coalitions and policymakers develop new ways to raise wage standards at the federal, state, and local levels. We help design new policies, prepare economic and legal analyses, educate the public, and provide legal defense when needed.

• State Minimum Wage Laws
• Citywide Minimum Wage Laws
• Living Wage Laws
• Job Standards & Accountability for Large Retailers