WHEREAS:

The Reagan Administration continues to push for a sub-minimum wage for youth of $2.50/hour for workers under the age of 20; and

WHEREAS:

Many youth are self-supporting, heads of households, or make significant monetary contributions to keep their families out of poverty; and

WHEREAS:

The minimum wage, itself, no longer provides adequate protection against poverty. The real value of the minimum wage is now at its lowest point since 1955, having declined by 26 percent because of inflation since 1981, the year it was increased to its current $3.35 an hour; and

WHEREAS:

Reports have shown that 50 percent of all minimum wage earners are adults, 25 percent of whom are female household heads. Moreover, a disproportionate share are minorities. If youths were paid lower rates, unskilled adults competing directly with teenagers for minimum wage jobs would lose their jobs; and

WHEREAS:

While there is evidence that adults would be displaced, there is no evidence that such a program would increase job opportunities; and

WHEREAS:

The last twenty-five years have witnessed the virtual collapse of the black teenage labor market. In January of this year teenage unemployment dropped from 18.8 to 184 percent. However, black teenage unemployment continued to rise for the fifth consecutive month to 41.9 percent. White teenage unemployment fell to 14.9 percent; and

WHEREAS:

Many employers of teenagers are now offering more than the minimum wage to attract the teenagers they wish to employ; and

WHEREAS:

The Reagan Administration has cut funding for the Youth Employment Demonstration Projects Act, the Summer Youth Employment Program, Job Corps, and other youth employment and training programs. Instead of cutting programs, the president and Congress should attack the problem of youth unemployment directly by initiating more federal job programs and providing incentives for the creation of new jobs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this 27th International Convention oppose any attempt to establish a sub-minimum wage for youth, even if described as experimental; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge Congress to create targeted job and training programs that will provide youth with work experience, skills, and training that can produce productive, self-sustaining adults; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME support and will urge Congress to enact legislation that provides federal funds for after-school and summer jobs that would enable disadvantaged youngsters to complete high school and gain necessary job skills.

SUBMITTED BY:

International Executive Board