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Augusta Workers See Benefits of Minimum Wage Increase

Monday, March 17th, 2014

Since President Obama called on lawmakers to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour during his recent State of the Union address, economists and pundits have argued about whether it would hurt the economy and small businesses or stimulate growth by boosting spending power and pulling low-wage workers out of poverty. 

Debate over outcomes aside, an increase would affect more than 20 million workers, including high school students, single parents, young adults and senior citizens in the Augusta area.The Augusta Chronicle asked a sample of minimum-wage workers to talk about how they make ends meet. These are their stories.

THE 50-SOMETHING

William Nicholson spent 25 years growing his construction and remodeling business.

He worked on houses in Georgia from Roswell to Athens and watched as a passion turned into a comfortable career.

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