PA raise minimum wage to $7.15

[pinion9]

I make almost $5.15 an hour just to carry a pager on call....
No ones makes that little. Even the McDonalds here pays $7.50/hr.

Dave, whatever you do, don't negotiate your salary. If you can't figure out $25K/yr is > $5.15/hr, you have serious issues. Oh, wait, maybe that position requires 93 hour work weeks.

 

[SirStev0]

while you seem to feel that raising the minimum wage is a bad idea... i see little arguement that is actually against it..
can someone post a reason other then only highschool kids work for min wage?

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: SirStev0
while you seem to feel that raising the minimum wage is a bad idea... i see little arguement that is actually against it..
can someone post a reason other then only highschool kids work for min wage?

A lot of people believe that it will put pressure on businesses that are paying more than the current minimum wage, but will be substantially closer to the minimum wage in July of 2007, to raise their wages-- this in turn will result in more lay-offs of part time employees.

Idk, I'm all for it though. Just hoping I see a little bit of a raise come next July.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: SirStev0
while you seem to feel that raising the minimum wage is a bad idea... i see little arguement that is actually against it..
can someone post a reason other then only highschool kids work for min wage?

Not that I think the arguments are sound, but there are basically two points made against raising the minimum wage: an ideological one, and an economic one.

The ideological point is that having a minimum wage at all is politically unsound--that it is not in the American spirit to mandate any amount of wages. The usual names are used in this point: socialism, communism, liberalism, progressivism, un-Randianism, non-Cato-ish, anti-states' rights, etc.

The economic point is that raising the minimum wage decreases wealth rather than increases it. Raising the minimum, it is argued, effects wage increases across the board. Thus business cost rises, and with that the cost of goods and services, stifling the economy.

 

[HombrePequeno]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: SirStev0
while you seem to feel that raising the minimum wage is a bad idea... i see little arguement that is actually against it..
can someone post a reason other then only highschool kids work for min wage?

Not that I think the arguments are sound, but there are basically two points made against raising the minimum wage: an ideological one, and an economic one.

The ideological point is that having a minimum wage at all is politically unsound--that it is not in the American spirit to mandate any amount of wages. The usual names are used in this point: socialism, communism, liberalism, progressivism, un-Randianism, non-Cato-ish, anti-states' rights, etc.

The economic point is that raising the minimum wage decreases wealth rather than increases it. Raising the minimum, it is argued, effects wage increases across the board. Thus business cost rises, and with that the cost of goods and services, stifling the economy.

Inflationary pressures would be small for the most part. There would also be a small slow down in job growth. To make sure those effects are even smaller there should be regional minimum wages as opposed to a national one. This would ensure that each region will be able to set a minimum wage that is right for the area instead of how it currently is, where places like Puerto Rico have to conform to our minimum wage and have horrible unemployment because of it.

I've also read that increasing the minimum wage increases the amount of people that make below minimum wage as well. The minimum wage isn't enforced in all sectors (farming, painting, etc.) of the economy.

 

[OFFascist]

Good for them I guess.

I dont think there should be any federal minimum wage, it should be up to the states to decide if they choose too.

Not everything needs to be done, nor should it all be done by the federal government. We have state governments for a reason. We should not all be exactly the same, let the different states try out what they want and then we can see how it all really works out.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: OFFascist
Good for them I guess.

I dont think there should be any federal minimum wage, it should be up to the states to decide if they choose too.

Not everything needs to be done, nor should it all be done by the federal government. We have state governments for a reason. We should not all be exactly the same, let the different states try out what they want and then we can see how it all really works out.

If there is any Constitutional justification for a federal min. wage it is in the Commerce Clause. Since wages affect interstate commerce, the feds have the authority to regulate. As it is now it is so ridiculously low that there might as well not be one, and the states also have their own min. wages.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Does this mean McDonalds is going to rasise the price of their Big Macs?

Probably not, as they are probably already paying higher than minimum. However it still will put artificial pressure on them to increase their wages. Raise minimum wage and looks for more self service lines in stores.

Just refuse to use the self-service lines, and they will be forced to hire cashiers.

Why would I do that? If I have less than 20 items, the self check out lanes are far more effecient. I really have better things to do than to wait in line at the grocery store.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: GoPackGo

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
It seems that everytime there is an increase in minimum wage the economy does get a bit of a boost.

How is it that we have gone 10 years since a raise?

because less than 2% of the population make minimum wage and 1/2 of thsoe still live with their parents. Minimum wage adjustments are pointless as it is very easy to find a job making more than that.

So tell me how many people make between 5.16 and 7.14 an hour?

Currently all those people make more than minimum wage, but would be making less than minimum wage if it was increased to 7.15.

And how many would be making minimum wage if we raided the minimum to $100/hour? You missed my point however, the market is raising the minimum wage without goverment intervention.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Does this mean McDonalds is going to rasise the price of their Big Macs?

Probably not, as they are probably already paying higher than minimum. However it still will put artificial pressure on them to increase their wages. Raise minimum wage and looks for more self service lines in stores.

Just refuse to use the self-service lines, and they will be forced to hire cashiers.

Why would I do that? If I have less than 20 items, the self check out lanes are far more effecient. I really have better things to do than to wait in line at the grocery store.

Well, you first stated as a reason for not raising the minimum wage that there would be more self service lines, then I suggested not using these lines so that they would not replace the cashiers. If you value the cashier over the self-service line, then you will go to the cashier. But you most recent reply suggests that you really don't value the cashier, so then you are for raising the min. wage.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: GoPackGo

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
It seems that everytime there is an increase in minimum wage the economy does get a bit of a boost.

How is it that we have gone 10 years since a raise?

because less than 2% of the population make minimum wage and 1/2 of thsoe still live with their parents. Minimum wage adjustments are pointless as it is very easy to find a job making more than that.

So tell me how many people make between 5.16 and 7.14 an hour?

Currently all those people make more than minimum wage, but would be making less than minimum wage if it was increased to 7.15.

And how many would be making minimum wage if we raided the minimum to $100/hour? You missed my point however, the market is raising the minimum wage without goverment intervention.

Why can't we have both?

 

[ajf3]

I pretty much view it as a $2/hr reduction in most others peoples wages... all other things being equal.

If a person were making the minimum possible + $13 per hour before this, now they're only making $11/hr more than the minimum possible, no?

The pricing of things will adjust higher to account for the extra $2 at the bottom end eventually. Ie, people will be willing to pay and extra $2 for their pizza, or and extra $3 for their case of beer, etc.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Does this mean McDonalds is going to rasise the price of their Big Macs?

Probably not, as they are probably already paying higher than minimum. However it still will put artificial pressure on them to increase their wages. Raise minimum wage and looks for more self service lines in stores.

Just refuse to use the self-service lines, and they will be forced to hire cashiers.

Why would I do that? If I have less than 20 items, the self check out lanes are far more effecient. I really have better things to do than to wait in line at the grocery store.

Well, you first stated as a reason for not raising the minimum wage that there would be more self service lines, then I suggested not using these lines so that they would not replace the cashiers. If you value the cashier over the self-service line, then you will go to the cashier. But you most recent reply suggests that you really don't value the cashier, so then you are for raising the min. wage.

No, I am just telling you need to be aware of the unintended consequences of raising minimum wages. Raising minimum wage will accelerate the automation of lowskill jobs.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: ajf3
I pretty much view it as a $2/hr reduction in most others peoples wages... all other things being equal.

If a person were making the minimum possible + $13 per hour before this, now they're only making $11/hr more than the minimum possible, no?

The pricing of things will adjust higher to account for the extra $2 at the bottom end eventually. Ie, people will be willing to pay and extra $2 for their pizza, or and extra $3 for their case of beer, etc.

Yes prices will rise and eventually everything will be back where it wsa before the wages were tampered with.

 

[fitzov]

Raising minimum wage will accelerate the automation of lowskill jobs.

It's cheaper to pay someone 40 more dollars a week than to lease such a machine.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Raising minimum wage will accelerate the automation of lowskill jobs.

It's cheaper to pay someone 40 more dollars a week than to lease such a machine.

You are quite incorrect. One of those self checkout stands you find at grocery stores cost about $50k. The cost to staff the position 18 hours a day $36K at the current minimum wage. That does not include taxes or benefits paid by the employeer. The economics already favors the machine and raising minimum wage will only hasten their adoption.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: fitzov

Raising minimum wage will accelerate the automation of lowskill jobs.

It's cheaper to pay someone 40 more dollars a week than to lease such a machine.

You are quite incorrect. One of those self checkout stands you find at grocery stores cost about $50k. The cost to staff the position 18 hours a day $36K at the current minimum wage. That does not include taxes or benefits paid by the employeer. The economics already favors the machine and raising minimum wage will only hasten their adoption.

Whether I'm correct or not, I'm sure the management at WallyMart knows the answer. In the long haul it may be cheaper to use machines. From my experience, however, the cashier is much better at the task. I find using the machine slower than letting a person handle it. We have two stores in my area--a grocery store that has no machines, and Walmart. Even if I have to go to Walmart for something (which is rare), I will always choose the person over the machine, even if there is a line. I consider it part of my civic duty to value people over machines.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: fitzov

Raising minimum wage will accelerate the automation of lowskill jobs.

It's cheaper to pay someone 40 more dollars a week than to lease such a machine.

You are quite incorrect. One of those self checkout stands you find at grocery stores cost about $50k. The cost to staff the position 18 hours a day $36K at the current minimum wage. That does not include taxes or benefits paid by the employeer. The economics already favors the machine and raising minimum wage will only hasten their adoption.

Whether I'm correct or not, I'm sure the management at WallyMart knows the answer. In the long haul it may be cheaper to use machines. From my experience, however, the cashier is much better at the task. I find using the machine slower than letting a person handle it. We have two stores in my area--a grocery store that has no machines, and Walmart. Even if I have to go to Walmart for something (which is rare), I will always choose the person over the machine, even if there is a line. I consider it part of my civic duty to value people over machines.

I will agree that checkers tend to be faster at moving groceries though, but it is not faster f there is a line. The lack of lines makes up for slowness on my part.

Of course you put others out of work, but not putting value in those that make these machines.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Stunt
I doubt many people will see this increase. So few people live off minimum wage, mostly teenagers who waste their money on useless crap. Besides, businesses who refuse to pay the increase can always turn to illegals.

You don't live here so you have no business commenting.

There are a ton of businesses taking advantage of the low minimum wage and getting away with it for Industries that used to be considered well paid including the IT Industry.

Many State and Federal Govt positions included also taking advantage of the low wage.

Dave, who is making $5.15 an hour in IT?
Please.
Just ONE example.
Come on, you can do it.

Very first search hit in Monster.com right now:

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR - Tuscaloosa, AL Salary/Wage:25,000.00

lmao the only people that will apply for that are people who dont fit the job description. No qualified candidate would work for 25K.

Edit:btw your example shows a person making 12.50 an hour, not 5.15.

pwned yourself, as usual.

$12.10 an hour is bad but no where near $5.15 or even $7.15.
And the funniest thing is, you posted this yourself. No wonder you're complaining about the job market, using Windows calculator to divide a salary into an hourly wage is too much work for you

There are Help Desk positions for minumum wage. I was simply showing how far DOWN the IT Industry has dropped with the first item that came up with search. There are plenty more where that came from.

You guys will be complaining when all you can afford is MickeyD's.

Enjoy

 

[cvrefugee]

As a pharmacy clerk I make $7.95/hr. There is no way in hell I could afford rent, a car payment, tuition, and other living expenses on my wages. My solution? I could spend about six months and around $1500 to go to pharmacy technician classes. Then I would automatically make $12+/hr. Nobody can live on minimum wage unless they walk everywhere and their rent was like $100/month.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
There are Help Desk positions for minumum wage. I was simply showing how far DOWN the IT Industry has dropped with the first item that came up with search. There are plenty more where that came from.

You guys will be complaining when all you can afford is MickeyD's.

Enjoy

Since when is level1 help desk - which is all just reading scripts anyways - considered to be 'IT?' You might as well call data entry 'IT' then too.

Personally I make plenty of money in engineering so I'm not complaing.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
There are Help Desk positions for minumum wage. I was simply showing how far DOWN the IT Industry has dropped with the first item that came up with search. There are plenty more where that came from.

You guys will be complaining when all you can afford is MickeyD's.

Enjoy

Since when is level1 help desk - which is all just reading scripts anyways - considered to be 'IT?' You might as well call data entry 'IT' then too.

Personally I make plenty of money in engineering so I'm not complaing.

Yes of course, we should hire nail techs to field IT Help desk calls, why didn't I think of that? :roll:

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: cvrefugee
As a pharmacy clerk I make $7.95/hr. There is no way in hell I could afford rent, a car payment, tuition, and other living expenses on my wages. My solution? I could spend about six months and around $1500 to go to pharmacy technician classes. Then I would automatically make $12+/hr. Nobody can live on minimum wage unless they walk everywhere and their rent was like $100/month.

Even $12 hr is below the minimum needed to survive in most places in California.

Good luck.

Of course the Republicans on here will just ask why don't you move to a state you can afford like Alabama.

They won't answer the question of who would do that job when you leave.

Of course it would be illegals that perhaps learned just enough English to get the job done, not pay any taxes and the Paharmacy makes even more profit.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Raising minimum wage will accelerate the automation of lowskill jobs.

It's cheaper to pay someone 40 more dollars a week than to lease such a machine.

If that were the case, why are most grocery stores bothering with it at all?

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: fitzov

Raising minimum wage will accelerate the automation of lowskill jobs.

It's cheaper to pay someone 40 more dollars a week than to lease such a machine.

You are quite incorrect. One of those self checkout stands you find at grocery stores cost about $50k. The cost to staff the position 18 hours a day $36K at the current minimum wage. That does not include taxes or benefits paid by the employeer. The economics already favors the machine and raising minimum wage will only hasten their adoption.

Whether I'm correct or not, I'm sure the management at WallyMart knows the answer. In the long haul it may be cheaper to use machines. From my experience, however, the cashier is much better at the task. I find using the machine slower than letting a person handle it. We have two stores in my area--a grocery store that has no machines, and Walmart. Even if I have to go to Walmart for something (which is rare), I will always choose the person over the machine, even if there is a line. I consider it part of my civic duty to value people over machines.

it really depends on the situation. For large orders with coupons, the human imo is better at dealing with it. But smaller orders like 10-20 items is way easier in the self checkout lane.

The systems imo arent robust enough to handle the large orders with coupons from my experience. But you can be assured they are working on such a system as we speak.