for the record, at the time that minimum wage was created, the ratio of the minimum wage to the average cost of living, was what now would be like $17.00/hr. by today's standards.
I believe that is what they are basing their stance on.
I guess I sort of see their point, minimum wage back then was decidedly above the poverty line, minimum wage now puts any family employed at that level below the poverty line.
I still don't think they are going to get it
I am going to call an exaggeration on that. The average Wage in 1980 was ~$12,000 a year and the average wage today is ~$44,000. But when comparing the buying power (i.e. inflation, or in simple words if things cost the same as they did back then) that $12,000 wage is equivalent to ~$33,000 a year today. So yes there is about $11,000 less the average american is making compared to the cost of living but it's not the people making min wage who are making less.
The truth is the gap is not with minimum wage, it is actually middle income that has lost money. In 1980 min wage was about $3.25 an hour and is currently $7.25, essentially their income has doubled. But in 1980 the average college graduate started at ~ $16-$20 per hour, and today it is about $18-$21.50 for starting wage.
Lower income has grown by 50% increase in the last 30 years well above the cost of living increase, but middle income has only grown by about 10-15% at best. Well behind cost of living.
Each time we increase the bottom wage and allow the rest to stay on a system of supply and demand, what happens is businesses hold back pay increases on their middle class level employees to make up the difference and we take a baby step towards socialism. Especially as we have less and less reason to go to college and make less money and more reason to drop out and take the easy road and complain when it isn't enough.
And for those that dont want to wait in line to use those will be able to use an app. walk in sit down pull out your smart phone place your order and pic it up when they call your number.