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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Walmart, the Minimum Wage and the Working Poor

Last week, Walmart stunned the world of retail by announcing that it will give half-million low-wage workers a raise in April to $9 an hour, with the promise of $10 an hour by February of next year. Low pay has created image problems for America's biggest private employer, while reduced unemployment means new competition for workers.

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By Warren Olney • Feb 23, 2015 • 1 min read

Last week, Walmart stunned the world of retail by announcing that it will give half-million low-wage workers a raise in April to $9 an hour, with the promise of $10 an hour by February of next year. Low pay has created image problems for America's biggest private employer, while reduced unemployment means new competition for workers. But even $10 is hardly enough to support a family, and labor advocates are pushing for $15. As some cities and states increase the minimum wage, we hear what life is like at the lowest end of the pay scale.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

  • KCRW placeholder

    Josh Eidelson

    Bloomberg BusinessWeek

  • KCRW placeholder

    Linda Tirado

    author

  • KCRW placeholder

    Karen Harned

    National Federation of Independent Business Legal Center

    NewsNationalPolitics
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