If there was a petition to sign for servers to have a wage increase would you sign it? What do you think should be done? What ideas or suggestions would you give to help get the ammendment or law changed?
123975
I have been a cocktail waitress off and on for about 6 years and I once bartended for a year.\nI am currently not working as I have just had a baby and havent worked since I got pregnant-\nBut when I plan to go back to work part-time it will be as a server. \nTherefore I would sign a petition like that in a hearbeat even if I had no plans to work in that possition again -\ni have always believed that is it unlawful to pay us server below minium wage just because we make tips (which we have to claim and pay taxes on) so it is unfair on many levels.\nYES sometimes the tips are outstanding during certain seasons -but what about those slow months  (and I do mean months) there were times when I barely made $200.oo per week -if it weren't for my Fiance' and his job I would have struggled even more - \n\n1.    I'm not really sure what I could suggest to get such a law changed -but maybe if they could just acknowledge to make a change in the wages atleast during the slow seasons (of your particular region) to raise it to no less than minimum wage when things are slow and drop back to server wage when things are rockin' - I'm sure companies would keep employees much monger than they do now - It would kind of be like a give and take situation. But honestly it needs to be atleast minimum wage plus tips all the time. \n\n2.    Or heres an idea maybe servers wage could be changed to whatever the minimum wage was last before it was changed recently - so that we would still be below minimum but atleast close enough to it so that it is not that much of a difference  but employers can still afford to pay it. Each time minimum wage increases us servers would only be 1 buck behind -and that 1 buck really adds up fast so thats alot an employer would still be saving. This would make our pay checks a little nicer to supplement those days when we dont quite cut it with tips. Like days when you go home with $11.50  after 8 or even ten hours work  and get your paycheck that follwing week for a total of $125.00 -how are you suppossed to live off of that?? - This should NOT be happening nowadays!!!What do you think???
53461
This is a hard question to answer. As the minimum wage increases so also does the cost of living. Those people paying minimum wages often raise the cost of the product to compensate for the increase of the cost of manufaturing it. After all they are in business to make money. I think we should look at better ways to decrease the cost of living for those that need it such as no tax on food, keeping the cost of gas lower, better and cheaper medical. These would actually increase the persons potential to survive in a heathier state and not have to work 2 or three jobs to make ends meet.
629866
It is total bullshit.\n\nLast year the federal minimum wage at $5.15 per hour was $3.50 below in purchasing power of what it was in 1968. Today's minimum wage has the lowest purchasing power since 1949 when economic productivity per worker was a fraction of what it is today, when the super-rich corporate bosses had not become hyper-rich averaging over $8000 an hour. \n\nThe last increase to $5.15 per hour was in 1997. Except for one year of restraint, members of Congress have zipped their annual pay grab through the House and Senate every year. Just the increases in that period amount to about three times the annual minimum wage income for millions of American laborers. No wonder poverty has been on the increase. \n\nRest assured, neither the Democratic nor the Republican leadership will stop their annual pay raise. The House already has passed their pay grab. Shame is a rare commodity when it comes to the moral authority to govern. \n\nWhy do we let them get away with such Marie Antoinette values?
671862
The living wage law didn't pass (I think they were trying for $7.50, not $9.50 if I recall properly).  \n\nBut here's what I can find on the new minimum wage laws for Albuquerque next year:\n\nhttp://www.cabq.gov/planning/nbrcoord/councilmessage.html\n\nSanta Fe does have a living wage for larger employers, but I'm not sure what the numbers are...
362399
Anymore employers seem to be able to do anything they want and unfortunately whether it is legal or not GET AWAY WITH IT.\n\nMy boss' idea of a pay cut was like last week for example.  Instead of working our normal scheduled 32 hr holiday week schedule +8hrs holiday pay, all I got was 23 hrs of work just because upper mngmnt said we need to save money "again".\nThis is the kind of BS we've been tolerating lately off and on and its getting really old.  Mngmnt doesn't get any proportional weekly cut and I feel they should as well.  Its always the working stiff in America who has to eat the SH** of mngmnt's problems.  I feel a lot of working people would agree with this statement.
416195
so lets raise min wage and allow illegal immigrants.  who do you thank will be fired and who will be then hired.  how much money will that take out of the min wage workers hands?  all maybe?
602890
Price Stability (Low Inflation)\n\nIf wages go up then you cannot hire too many workers.\n\nExample:\nIf today Congress passed a new Bill to lower the Minimum Wage to $3.15 then most companies could hire almost twice the number of workers they now have and that would reduce unemployent.\nThat law is never going to be proposed by any Congressman because it would not be popular and that would cost him the election. Despite the fact, low unemployment is good for everyone it also causes less Crime and more Profits.\n\nOn the other hand, if the minimum wage is changed to $10.30 per hour then most companies would have to fire half the employees to make the same profits and that would increase unemployment and crime.\nIf a Congressman proposes that law it will be very popular and it will probably will give him an election. \nYes, the more damage you make the more popular you are.\n\nHigh wages cause inflation.\n\nIn the United States of America the wages are the highest in the world and that is eventually is going to cost millions of jobs.\n\nSince 1994 companies have been moving out of the United States of America to Mexico, China and India.\n\nThat trend cannot be reversed unless you bring the mexicans to the United States of America (As opposed to send the factories to Mexico)\n\nIn a company moves to Mexico not only employment is reduced but also taxes and if you are unemployed you cannot spend too much money.\n\nIn fact, Mexico is now the 12th richest country in the World because of this.
80410
I've never been a server or waitress but, I feel that regardless of how much in tips they make, they should get minimum wage. They work just as hard as anyone else. As for the tips, they have to earn them. Just think of a slow night and little or no tips...she walks away with what, 20 bucks for working 8 hours on her feet. I think there should be a change in this, everyone should get nothing less than minimum wage regardless of their occupation.
321161
Interesting topic.  Who is going to pay for the increase?
216563
The United States Congress is currently considering a law that would increase minimum wage to about $7.25. I am just above the current minimum wage and would love to make $7.25, the only problem is economic effects that this could have on the country. Due to the huge rise in wages companies would have to pay out, they would be forced to raise prices to make up for that difference. That would cause the standard of living to increase, which would have a negative impact on our economy and perhaps bringing us back to this same issue. Again I do believe in a high minimum wage, but perhaps (and hopefully) smaller increases over a long period of time would remedy this problem.
309178
yes, minimum wage need's to increase about 70% to 80%\nat least.(i noticed other's are worried about the effect it would have on, inflation. Borrowing money causes inflation, and other thing's...etc. so what is their point exactly\n\nIt's incrediable and scary, that so many people are forced into poverty wages.\n\nIt's is happening in every country (wages not keeping pace with inflation and stealth tax's) etc
669966
I think it is because they tend to be more greedy, they just voted themselves a pay raise but it don't look like they will pass a raise in the minimum wage. It has been a decade since the minimum wage has been raised.
238733
Why do you publish a question that you yourself give the answer to.  The greedy employers have to step up to the plate and start to pay a fair wage, a job doesn't stink if the wages are fair.  You must be able to live on the wages that you make, when a company like Exon gives its retiring CEO 400million dollars in benefits, it is ridiculous that they then pay their clerks in the convenience stores that they own the minimum wage.  Big Business SUCKS.
342290
This is a difficult question... \nFirst min. Wage was enacted to be a living wage which it was at first. If it had kept up with inflation it would be well over $12 an hour( I did an upper level paper on this and I have a degree in Labor studies) The problem is while the cost of labor has really only risen a small percentage the cost of the same goods that could be obtained with that salary is now out of reach. so min wage needs to be raised.    Min. Wage is supposed to be a living wage and can be raised by individual states the Federal government just sets a rock bottom minimum.\n$5-6 dollar an hour jobs cannot support an economy.... It is kind of a snow ball effect.. .\nThe problem is people skilled or unskilled are fighting over any jobs that pay a living wage... There should be  a salary gap for skilled workers but our economy is leaning the other direction.
647804
The Republican-controlled Senate smothered a proposed election-year increase in the minimum wage Wednesday, rejecting Democratic claims that it was past time to boost the $5.15 hourly pay floor that has been in effect for nearly a decade.\n\nThese people are making six figure salaries plus incentives so they just don't give a shi* about the "little" people.  It's time to vote them out of office!!
215734
The Pros:\n\nRaising the minimum wage would put more money in the hands of those who need it most.  Many people agree that a person, especially a single parent, could never survive on ~$10K/yr.\n\nThe Cons:\n\n1.  Raising the minimum wage can create inflation.  Because there are a lot of minimum wage jobs, total wages would increase for such items as fast food, lawn service, etc.  This in turn would get passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.\n\n2.  It might increase unemployment, especially among teens and marginal help.  There are always businesses who are just making it.  By increasing the wages they have to pay, you'd put some of them out of business.  Who knows how many.  It is debated all the time among economists.  Also, with increased minimum wage, employers will seek out better help rather than give a kid his first chance.\n\nPersonally, I think this is a state issue, but that is a matter of taste, not economics.  I don't expect the next raise to occur until a Democratic President and Congress are elected.
592660
Because U picked the WRONG person as president!\n\nhe doesn't want minimum wage to go up! last increase was made like 7 yrs ago (I think Clinton did, but not sure). There was a proposal of minimum wage increase few weeks ago but it's rejected!