1. Memphis Area Women’s Council Task Force on Economic Self Sufficiency A Living Wage

2. Living Wage is a Women’s Issue » Bulk of low-wage workers in US are female » Women comprise less than half U.S. workforce but 61% of workers earning minimum wage » Two thirds of minimum wage earners are adults 20 years of age or older » Work requirements of welfare reform apply overwhelmingly to adult women

3. Living Wage is a Memphis Women’s Issue  49 % of women in Memphis who work full- time earn less than $25,000 per year  Women in Memphis who work full-time earn 69% of what men earn  Women make up 51% of the Memphis workforce, but only 21% of those earning more than $75,000 per year

4. What is a Living Wage? » Means self-sufficiency » Amount family needs for basic necessities » Takes $13.06/hour in Memphis for one adult and one child » Memphis economy dominated by service jobs at $7 – $10/hour

5. What does that get you? » Adequate child care » Basic rental housing and utilities » Adequate food prepared at home » Five-year old car » Subsidized health insurance » Basic clothing and personal care products » Payment of local, state and federal taxes

6. What’s missing?  Long distance phone calls  Cable TV  Restaurant meals  Insurance for eye & dental care  Home equity  Vacations  Savings

7. Proposed Memphis Living Wage Ordinance  $10/hr with health insurance  $12/hr without health insurance  Workers covered are those under contract with city, working for companies that get tax abatements, and city employees

8. Working for local ordinance  Mid-South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice, many churches and faith based organizations  Labor union representatives  9 of 13 City Council candidates  Church Women United  Commercial Appeal Editorial in favor of ordinance  Memphis Area Women’s Council

9. Opposed to local ordinance  Chamber of Commerce  Tennessee Municipal League  Brent Taylor and Scott McCormick  Hotel and Restaurant Association

10. Living Wage: Call to Action  Attend rally May 8, 12 noon, City Hall Plaza, Main Street  Wear and pass out Mothers’ Day stickers  Attend key meetings of City Council  Wear MAWC Living Wage buttons

11. Living Wage: Call to Action  Identify women-owned (& other) businesses in support of Living Wage  Respond to Action Alerts  Calls and letters to City Council Members (go to www.memphiswomen.org)

12. Living Wage: Call to Action  Invite presentations to women’s groups, Sunday School, etc.  Sign post cards today!

13. Living Wage: Questions & discussion

14. www.memphiswomen.org www.memphiswomen.org A new resource for the community  Community Calendar  Action Network  Local & National Resources  Studies & Data  Register to Vote  English & Spanish  On-line Discussion Forums