The city of Jonesboro, Arkansas, has increased the minimum wage for its employees from $11 to $15 per hour, effective from January 1, 2024. The decision was made by the city council on Tuesday, after months of discussion and public input. The wage increase will benefit about 200 city workers, mostly in the public works and parks and recreation departments.
A Step Towards Economic Justice
The city council voted 5-2 in favor of the ordinance that raised the minimum wage for city employees. The ordinance was sponsored by Councilwoman Brenda Johnson, who said the wage increase was a step towards economic justice and a way to retain and attract quality workers.
“We have a moral obligation to pay our employees a living wage,” Johnson said. “This is not a handout, this is a hand up. This is an investment in our city and our people.”
Johnson said the wage increase would help reduce the turnover rate among city workers, which was as high as 40% in some departments. She also said the wage increase would boost the local economy, as workers would have more money to spend on goods and services.
The ordinance was supported by Mayor Donya Sartor, who said the wage increase was long overdue and would improve the morale and productivity of city workers.
“I am proud of our city council for taking this bold and courageous action,” Sartor said. “Our city employees are the backbone of our city. They deserve to be paid fairly and respectfully for the hard work they do every day.”
A Budget Challenge
The wage increase will cost the city an additional $1.2 million annually, according to the city’s finance director. The city will have to make some adjustments to its budget to cover the cost, such as reducing some expenses, increasing some fees, and using some reserves.
Some council members expressed concern about the financial impact of the wage increase, especially in light of the ongoing pandemic and the uncertain economic outlook. They also questioned whether the wage increase was fair to other workers in the city who earn less than $15 per hour.
Councilman Robert Smith, who voted against the ordinance, said the wage increase was too high and too fast, and that the city should have considered a more gradual and incremental approach.
“I am not against raising the minimum wage, but I think we are going too far, too fast,” Smith said. “We are creating a huge gap between our city employees and the rest of the workforce. We are also putting a strain on our budget that we may not be able to sustain in the long run.”
Smith also said the wage increase would create a ripple effect in the labor market, as other employers would have to raise their wages to compete with the city, which could lead to inflation and higher costs for consumers.
A Community Support
The wage increase was welcomed by many city workers, who said they were struggling to make ends meet with the current minimum wage of $11 per hour. They said the wage increase would help them pay their bills, support their families, and improve their quality of life.
“This is a blessing for me and my family,” said James Jones, a public works employee who has worked for the city for 10 years. “I have been living paycheck to paycheck, barely able to afford the basics. Now I will be able to save some money, pay off some debts, and maybe even buy a house someday.”
The wage increase was also supported by many community groups, such as labor unions, faith organizations, and social justice advocates. They said the wage increase was a matter of human dignity and a way to reduce poverty and inequality in the city.
“This is a historic moment for Jonesboro,” said Rev. David Johnson, a local pastor and a leader of the Jonesboro Living Wage Coalition, which campaigned for the wage increase. “This is a victory for workers’ rights and social justice. This is a testament to the power of people coming together and demanding change.”
The Jonesboro Living Wage Coalition collected more than 5,000 signatures from residents who supported the wage increase. The coalition also organized rallies, marches, and town hall meetings to raise awareness and mobilize support for the issue.
A Regional Trend
Jonesboro is not the only city in Arkansas that has raised its minimum wage for city employees. In 2023, Little Rock and Fayetteville also increased their minimum wages to $15 per hour, following the example of other cities across the country that have done the same.
The state minimum wage in Arkansas is currently $11 per hour, which was set by a voter-approved ballot initiative in 2018. The state minimum wage applies to most private sector workers, but not to public sector workers, who are exempt from the state law.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which has not changed since 2009. There have been several attempts to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, but none have succeeded so far.
