Minimum Wage and Community Advocacy

Overview

The Chamber strongly advocates for local communities, recognizing that community well-being and economic strength are intrinsically linked. Raising the minimum wage is controversial and complex, and the Chamber takes a cautious approach. As a free-enterprise and small business advocate, the Chamber reminds the community that a strong, growing economy is the most effective way to increase wages. Wage mandates have harmful and unintended economic consequences (Watch the Californa News Story.)

Make Your Voice Heard

Surveys show voters are split on minimum wage mandates, and discussions often overlook unintended economic consequences. It is crucial that the community fully understands the impact of economics when voting on ballot measures. The Chamber advocates for responsible wage increases guided by economic data and market conditions rather than arbitrary hikes, and your understanding and input are vital in this process. Arizona currently has one of the highest minium wages in America,

Economic  Realities of Raising the Minuim Wage 

Besides being harmful to small businesses, minimum wage mandates typicall cause more inflation, harm teens and young adults, and result in  job losses. Watch This Video on What Happenr to Calfornia's fast Food Indisty  

• Higher Prices for Everybody! Businesses with tight profit margins will pass increased labor costs to consumers, leading to skyrocketing prices for all goods and services. These hikes will offset wage increases, slash real income for families, and hurt those who need the minimum wage.

• Teens and Young Adults Beware! Raising the minimum wage can push young adults and students out of the job market. Employers will reduce hiring teens and young adults who lack work experience, filling only essential positions. Nearly half of all minimum wage earners are teenagers or young people still living with their parents.

• Small Business Killer Alert! Small businesses, the engines of economic growth, make up 99% of all businesses and employ 44% of all private workers. Excessive mandates, like minimum wage hikes and other regulations, are crushing our small businesses.

• More Job Losses Ahead! Higher labor costs could lead to massive job losses, especially in small businesses. Automation might replace workers, and some companies may hire more part-time employees to dodge benefit expenses, hurting those the minimum wage intends to help.

• Personal Control, Not Government Control: Personal responsibility is better than mandates! The best and long-term way to boost earnings for people isn’t through minimum wage mandates. It’s by pursuing education, gaining more training, switching jobs, starting a business, taking on side work, or relocating. That is how free enterprise works. 

• Don’t Confuse Minimum Wage with Living Wage! The “minimum wage” is the lowest legal pay set by the government to prevent exploitation. A “living wage” is the income needed to cover basic living costs like housing and food, varying by location and usually higher than the minimum wage. The government sets the minimum wage, but individuals determine their “living wages” through education, additional training, switching jobs, starting a business, networking, or negotiating pay.

• The Minimum Wage Snowball Effect, Will Become an Avalance! Other employees and supervisors expect pay adjustments to maintain equity when the minimum wage increases, aka, "The Ripple Effect"). Many businesses raise wages for all employees to avoid discontent and maintain equity, passing these costs to consumers through higher prices.

• Outsider Interference: Take Back Arizona! The Chamber insists that wage changes should reflect our state’s unique needs and economic realities, not be driven by political agendas or outside groups. We stand against out-of-state interests, paying professionals to gather petition signatures for local and state ballots. Let’s keep Arizona’s decisions in Arizona’s hands!

• Timing Couldn’t Be Worse! With rising inflation and worker shortages, employers are already paying above the minimum wage. Raising wages now would only fuel inflation and stall economic growth. Act now before it’s too late! Vote NO

• A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Many groups pushing for a “living wage” are supporters of Universal Basic Income (UBI). The idea behind UBI is that every American gets  a monthly cash payment from the governement, no strings attached, to cover basic needs and wipe out poverty. But here’s the catch: who’s footing the bill?