0:00animated job icons text overlay The scene opens with a dynamic and colorful animation featuring an array of flat-design icons representing various professions and work-related items, such as a chef's hat, laptop, construction helmet, cleaning supplies, and a salesperson's uniform. These icons are scattered across a vibrant red background, giving the impression of a busy, interconnected workforce. As the scene progresses, some icons subtly shift or sparkle. A text overlay, initially saying "It's not that young people aren't working," changes to "It's that they're not getting paid." The overall mood is informative and slightly critical, using bright visuals to convey a serious message. The 'attn:' logo is in the top left, and the 'amazon' logo is in the top right. The camera remains static.
This scene shows the same collection of flat-design job and work-related icons, but they now dynamically coalesce and arrange themselves to form the outline of the United States map. The background is a solid red color. As the map forms, a text overlay appears at the bottom of the screen, posing a question: "How did we get to a point in America where you can work a full-time job, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, yet still be in poverty?" This visual transformation from individual icons to a national map emphasizes the widespread nature of the problem. The camera zooms out slightly as the map is formed, maintaining a top-down perspective.
0:11piggy bank shattering The scene transitions to a darker, almost charcoal gray background with subtle pink particles or dust motes. A stylized, solid pink piggy bank, with a small crack visible on its side, is centered in the frame. Suddenly, the piggy bank shatters into several pieces, and a white butterfly gracefully flies out from its remnants, ascending towards the top of the frame. This visual metaphor strongly conveys the idea of broken financial stability or the inability to save money despite working hard. The 'attn:' and 'amazon' logos remain visible in the top corners. The camera is static.
0:14circular transition to 1938 The previous scene rapidly shrinks into a small, red-rimmed circular portal in the center of the dark gray screen. The text "Let's go back to the beginning." appears below the shrinking circle. This acts as a clear transition point, signaling a shift in the narrative to historical context. The camera remains static.
0:151938 shantytown scene The circular portal expands to fill the screen, revealing an animated depiction of a shantytown or settlement, rendered in a flat, illustrative style against a deep red background. Two rudimentary structures, seemingly made of corrugated metal and wood, are visible. Clotheslines with white laundry stretch between them. In the distance, a stylized, dark red city skyline with tall buildings is silhouetted against the red sky, suggesting a contrast between urban development and the depicted poverty. The year '1938' is prominently displayed at the top center. The 'attn:' and 'amazon' logos remain. The camera is static, providing a wide view of this historical setting.
0:17fair labor standards act The scene shifts to a red background, featuring a stylized animation of historical items relevant to labor laws. A yellow, cylindrical object with a string hangs on the left, possibly a spool of thread or a measuring tool, symbolic of work. In the center, a beige legal document titled "Fair Labor Standards Act" with a golden seal is prominently displayed. To the right, a black fountain pen and inkwell complete the composition. A text overlay at the bottom explains, "In 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt established the minimum wage of 25 cents per hour." The camera remains static, offering a clear, eye-level view of these illustrative elements.
0:20spinning coin clock Against the same red background, a large, stylized analog clock face appears, its hands quickly spinning clockwise. At the center of the clock, a silver coin with a profile silhouette of a person (likely President Roosevelt) rotates rapidly. The text overlay "under this simple premise:" appears below the clock. This animation visually represents the passage of time and the establishment of a foundational economic principle. The camera is static.
0:21three spinning coins The scene displays three identical silver coins, each featuring a profile silhouette, arranged horizontally across the red background. They are spinning in unison, creating a dynamic visual effect. A text overlay beneath them states, "Pay your workers enough so they can afford the basic necessities of life." This reinforces the core message of the minimum wage. The camera is static, focusing on these coins as symbols of payment and value.
0:24basic necessities icons Three colorful circular icons appear, representing fundamental needs. From left to right: a green circle with a white bed, a purple circle with a red shirt and yellow boots, and a yellow circle with a plate of food. These icons are positioned above a text overlay that reiterates: "Pay your workers enough so they can afford the basic necessities of life." The background is a solid red. This visual directly illustrates the concept of basic needs that the minimum wage is intended to cover. The camera is static.
0:28minimum wage purchasing power The three necessity icons (bed, clothes, food) are now positioned above a horizontal white line. Below this line, a green hexagonal banner with a dollar sign reads "MINIMUM WAGE." A text overlay states, "But the true impact of the minimum wage is measured through its purchasing power." Additional icons representing car, baby products, graduation cap, and stethoscope appear, suggesting broader life goals. The initial three icons then float up, revealing the 'MINIMUM WAGE' banner below them. The background is a gradient red. The camera is static, presenting an infographic-like view.
0:33inflation graph minimum wage The scene displays the same three necessity icons (bed, clothes, food) at the top, each connected by white lines to dollar signs labeled '$$$' that are floating above a rising white line graph. Below the graph, the green 'MINIMUM WAGE' banner remains static. The background is a red gradient with a subtle grid pattern. The white line graph dramatically rises and falls, illustrating economic fluctuation. The text overlay explains, "Since the beginning, its purchasing power has fluctuated because the minimum wage has never been tied to inflation." This visual effectively conveys the inverse relationship between minimum wage and rising costs due to inflation. The camera is static.
0:391950s 1960s houses The screen is split horizontally into two sections: the top half is bright green, and the bottom half is teal. Rows of identical, stylized white houses with red roofs populate both halves. In the center, the years '1960' and '1950' are stacked, with '1960' on the green top and '1950' on the teal bottom. A small red car drives along a road in the green section. The text overlay introduces, "For most of the '50s and '60s, an influential middle-class..." This setup visually represents different eras and societal structures. The camera is static, providing a wide, split-screen view.
0:42capitol minimum wage increases The background remains split with green at the bottom and teal/red at the top, but the divide is now diagonal. The same rows of houses and red cars are visible on the green side. At the top, the U.S. Capitol building, rendered in white, stands prominently. A green hexagonal banner beneath it displays "MINIMUM WAGE" and dynamically changes from "$0.75" to "$1.25", indicating an increase. The text overlay at the bottom continues, "...helped create bipartisan support for minimum wage increases." This scene visually represents governmental action and its impact on wages. The camera is static, offering a wide, illustrative view.
0:47family above poverty line The background is bright lime green with a subtle pattern of stars or sparkles. On the left side of the frame, three framed pictures hang on the wall: a family portrait (stylized man, woman, child), a white house with a red roof, and a red car. On a dark brown table at the bottom right, a roasted turkey or chicken with green vegetable side dishes is presented. A text overlay at the bottom reads, "which kept the family of three above the poverty line." This scene visually represents the positive impact of minimum wage increases on a family's ability to afford essential goods and maintain a decent living standard. The camera is static.
0:50congress extends minimum wage to tipped workers The background is bright lime green. The white U.S. Capitol building reappears at the top of the frame. Below it, the year '1966' is displayed. A green hexagonal banner with "MINIMUM WAGE $1.25" is visible. Below this, three female animated characters, depicting waitresses of diverse ethnicities (one fair-skinned with blonde hair, two with darker skin and dark hair), carrying trays of food, walk into the frame from the left. Simultaneously, three male animated characters, depicting valets or waiters of diverse ethnicities (two with darker skin and dark hair, one fair-skinned with blonde hair), wearing vests and bow ties, carrying keys or trays, walk into the frame from the right. The text overlay reads, "Congress extended the minimum wage to tip workers like waiters and valets." This scene illustrates the expansion of minimum wage protections to new worker groups. The camera is static.
0:55minimum wage peak 1968 The scene features a vibrant lime green background with a subtle grid pattern. In the middle of the screen, a row of white, stylized houses with red roofs are depicted, similar to earlier scenes. Above these houses, a large light blue circle represents the sky, containing white clouds and a yellow sun. A green hexagonal banner in the sky highlights "MINIMUM WAGE" which dynamically changes from "$1.60" to "$12.24". The year '1968' is displayed at the bottom of the screen. A text overlay explains, "The minimum wage hit its peak in 1968 when it was $1.60 per hour, which is today's equivalent to $12.24." The camera is static, providing a wide view, resembling an infographic. The visual effectively translates historical wage values into modern purchasing power.
1:04inflation eroding minimum wage The background shifts to a bright yellow-orange grid pattern, evoking a sense of increasing intensity. A large, stylized red high-heeled shoe with a thick platform and rainbow accents on the heel is centrally featured, shimmering with small white starbursts. A white line graph ascends sharply from left to right behind the shoe. A green hexagonal banner showing "MINIMUM WAGE $1.60" then drops into the frame, and the text below changes, reflecting the struggle to keep up with costs. The text overlay reads, "But in the 1970s, inflation was high in the U.S., and the minimum wage increases barely kept pace with rising costs." This scene uses the dramatic shoe and rising graph to symbolize unchecked inflation eroding wage value. The camera is static.
1:12conservative economics reagan The scene displays a map of the United States, predominantly colored in red, with a few states highlighted in blue. The year '1980' is displayed at the bottom. A newspaper with the headline "REAGAN WINS!" and a yellow cowboy hat appears on screen, accompanied by radiating lines suggesting celebration or impact. The background is a vibrant purple with subtle vertical stripes. The text overlay states, "When conservative economics became popular with President Ronald Reagan's election in 1980...". This visual combines political and economic symbolism to mark a significant shift in policy. The camera is static.
1:18markets not government dictate wages The scene continues with a vibrant purple background, transitioning to a more abstract representation. The yellow cowboy hat from the previous scene is now depicted with a golden lasso circling around it. The text overlay below explains, "...the consensus was that markets, not the government, should dictate wages...". This scene uses the cowboy hat and lasso as a visual metaphor for the shift in economic philosophy, favoring market forces over governmental intervention. The camera is static, focusing on this symbolic imagery.
1:21raising pay hurts economy The U.S. Capitol building appears again, this time with a stylized city skyline in the background, all rendered in shades of grey and white against the purple backdrop. A golden lasso now encircles the Capitol building, connecting it to the text below. Two tall, light blue office buildings with glowing windows rise behind it. A green hexagonal banner displaying "MINIMUM WAGE" dynamically changes from "$2.90" to "$3.10", rising from behind the office buildings. The text overlay reads, "...and that artificially raising pay would hurt the economy by limiting job growth." This scene illustrates the argument against increasing minimum wage, connecting it to economic growth and government policy.
1:27reagan no raise graph The scene displays a grid-patterned purple background. A bar chart emerges, spanning from '1980' to '1988' on the x-axis. A horizontal dashed white line represents the minimum wage level. Below it, several grey bars appear, remaining at the same height, symbolizing no increase. Above the bars, a green hexagonal banner with "MINIMUM WAGE $3.10" floats, indicating the fixed wage. The text overlay states, "As a result, there was no raise throughout Reagan's eight years in office." This visual represents the stagnation of the minimum wage during a specific political era. The camera is static.
1:32minimum wage plummeted inflation The background remains the same grid-patterned purple. The green "MINIMUM WAGE $3.10" banner is fixed at the bottom center. A white line graph dramatically descends from the upper left, indicating a decline. Above the banner, five circular icons symbolizing car, baby products, clothes, food, and bed are shown, one by one. The text overlay states, "With continuing inflation, the purchasing power of the minimum wage plummeted." This scene uses the descending graph and the re-appearance of the icons representing goods to illustrate the diminishing buying power of a stagnant minimum wage in the face of inflation. The camera is static.
1:38saxophone 1996 clinton The background transitions to a vibrant teal color with a subtle grid pattern. A large, bright blue circle with white stars and a green border is centrally located. Inside this circle, a golden saxophone is prominently displayed, with the year '1996' written below it. Light rays emanate from the saxophone upwards. The text overlay explains, "Even in 1996 under President Clinton,...". This scene uses the saxophone as a playful, perhaps symbolic, reference to President Clinton and sets the stage for discussing minimum wage changes during his tenure. The camera is static.
1:40old tv wage increase The scene features a vibrant teal background. An old-fashioned television set with rabbit-ear antennas is centered in the frame. The TV screen displays a bright red background with a stylized animated male character with dark skin and dark hair, wearing a white shirt and dark tie. A green hexagonal banner on the TV screen dynamically shows "MINIMUM WAGE" increasing from "$4.25" to "$5.15". The text overlay reads, "...when the minimum wage was raised from $4.25 to $5.15...". This visual uses a nostalgic medium to present historical wage information, implying a past event. The camera is static.
1:45tipped minimum wage frozen The old television set remains centered against the teal background. The TV screen now displays a bright red background with a stylized burger and fries on a white plate, and a slice of cake on another plate. Above these, bold white text reads "TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE." A large, yellow, starburst graphic with "ONLY $2.13 per hour!" is superimposed over the food. The text overlay explains, "restaurant owners successfully lobbied to prevent raises to the tipped minimum wage for workers. Since then, the tipped wage has been frozen at $2.13." This scene highlights a specific issue within minimum wage policy using impactful, graphic-novel style visuals. The camera is static.
1:532021 minimum wage purchasing power The scene is set against a dark gray background. A modern, white smartphone is centered vertically. The year '2021' is displayed above it. The phone screen initially shows multiple circular icons, then narrows to three at the top: a purple T-shirt, a yellow fast-food meal (burger and soda), and a green bed. Below these icons, a green hexagonal banner displays "MINIMUM WAGE $7.25". A text overlay states, "Today, the federal minimum wage is only $7.25 per hour, far lower in purchasing power than in the 1960s." The camera is static, presenting a clean, modern infographic style. The diminishing number of icons on the phone screen visually implies reduced purchasing power.
1:591960 vs 2021 purchasing power comparison The scene transitions to a split-screen comparison against a dark gray background. On the left, labeled '1960', a green hexagonal banner shows "MINIMUM WAGE $1.60", with a full array of seven circular icons (car, baby products, clothes, food, house, bed, graduation cap) above it, indicating higher purchasing power. On the right, labeled '2021', a green hexagonal banner shows "MINIMUM WAGE $7.25", but only three icons (T-shirt, fast-food meal, bed) are present above it, signifying reduced purchasing power. The text overlay from the previous scene continues: "far lower in purchasing power than in the 1960s." This side-by-side comparison starkly illustrates the decline in the minimum wage's real value over decades. The camera is static.
2:02cash register income calculation The scene is set against a dark gray background. On the left, a white analog clock face with red hands spins rapidly clockwise, symbolizing working hours. In the center, a blue cash register with a blank screen begins to print a long, white receipt. On the right, a red calendar with 'JAN' displayed cycles quickly through months, representing a full year of work. As the calendar reaches 'DEC', the cash register screen lights up, displaying "$15,080.00". The text overlay below states, "If you work 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, at the minimum wage, your annual income is only $15,080." This animated sequence visually calculates the annual income of a minimum wage worker. The camera is static.
2:10poverty line illustration The scene is set against a dark gray background. On the far left, a framed portrait of a stylized man and a child (father and daughter) hangs on the wall. Below it, two fast-food bags with burgers and two green-strawed drinks sit on a table, representing daily expenses. To the right, a white document labeled "PAST DUE" floats, signifying financial distress. Further right, a red calendar with 'DEC' is visible, and a broken pink piggy bank (similar to an earlier scene) appears. The text overlay reads, "For a family of just two, that is below the federal poverty line." This scene visually articulates the struggle of a minimum wage worker to support a family, highlighting the gap between income and the poverty line. The camera is static.
2:14diverse workers voting booths The scene shifts to a teal background. Five stylized animated characters, representing different professions and diverse ethnicities, stand side-by-side in voting booths. From left to right, they are: a waitress, a waiter, a casual worker, a police officer or postal worker, and a call center representative. The text overlay asks, "So how do we change our economy to serve young American workers?" This visual emphasizes the collective voice and potential for change through democratic processes, uniting diverse workers. The camera is static, focusing on these characters.
2:19call to action share video The scene is split vertically. The left side is a solid blue, possibly depicting blurred worker icons from the previous scene. The right side is a vibrant red background filled with the stylized job and work-related icons seen at the beginning of the video. Large, bold white text on the right side reads, "SHARE THIS VIDEO" followed by smaller text: "and help support a $15 an hour minimum wage." This split-screen effectively combines the call to action with a visual representation of the subject matter. The camera is static.
2:21ending card amazon message The screen is completely black. White text appears, stating: "We've seen the benefits of a $15/hr starting wage since 2018. Learn more about our position at AboutAmazon.com/15". Below this, the word "SPONSORED BY" appears, followed by the white Amazon logo on a black background. This serves as a concluding statement and a call to learn more, indicating Amazon's stance on the minimum wage issue. The camera is static.
