Home > Talk of Lufkin > Archives > 2008 > July > 27 > Entry
Minimum wage workers get raise: Increase boosts paychecks, spirits of employees, but some fear it won’t compensate for rising prices
Brittney Havard, like many Americans, has bills to pay. Standing behind a counter at Exxon Polk’s Pick-it-up, the 19-year-old swipes cards and hands change back to customers, working full-time to pay her bills. However, in the wake of a struggling economy, a recent boost to the minimum wage may alleviate her financial worries. Full story.
Comments
By John
July 28, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this
That is what no one wanted to talk about - businesses will cut hours and/or employees to pay for this new wage increase. It sounded good in theory, but it will end up hurting people in the long run. Enjoy your increased earnings, while your job lasts.
By Store Manager
July 28, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
An increase in the minimum wage helps nobody. As a manager of a high volume retail store (think slightly smaller than Wal-Mart) my employees get no benefit. Over the course of the past few months we have steadily raised prices all over the store a little bit at a time for several reasons. The higher cost of transportation is an obvious one. Raw goods prices have increased, which must be passed on to the consumer. Employee wages had to go up, thanks to the federal mandate.
Take away the other factors that have caused the recent price hikes and you will still see higher prices when minimum wage increases. To maintain profitability we have to pass increased costs on to the end consumer.
The dairy farmer has to raise the wage of his workers, therefore he has to raise prices for raw milk. The milk processor has to pay the higher price for raw milk, and has to give his workers a raise, so he raises his cost to me at the retail level. Because he has raised his price I have to raise mine, plus I must give a raise to my workers and maintain profitability for my stockholders, so I must raise my prices even more.
Now I ask you: Who did this increase help? Certainly not the consumer making minimum wage. I guess it makes them feel better and gets Teddy Kennedy and his cronies votes…..
By Consumer
July 28, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
It appears that those people who do not need minimum wage earnings will complain the most. Millions of families use their minimum wages to raise families, pay tuition, etc., how dare those of you who are financially stable snub your nose at others.
By Store Manager
July 29, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this
Answer the question, Consumer, who did it help? Prices rise in accordance with cost. Increased minimum increases cost. The net gain is nothing for the minimum wage worker.
Let’s dig a little deeper, too. My company was paying those at the bottom of the scale above minimum, but with this increase they were simply raised to the new minimum and told, “sorry.” Those in mid-level supervisory positions were given no raise at all, basically giving them a pay cut.
So, you got a 70 cent per hour raise. Big deal. The price of a loaf of bread went up 20 cents, the price of a gallon of milk went up 20 cents, the price of a bottle of Tide went up 30 cents, etc. WHO DID IT HELP? ANSWER THE QUESTION.
By patrick
July 29, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
stop being a group of cry babys the goverment is doing the best they can do ………… its not like its there falt we cannt drill for oil and drop fuel prices
By patrick
July 29, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
stop being a group of cry babys …….. its not there fault the prices are so high ………its the goverments because they wont drill for oil in the usa
By FedUp
July 31, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Yeah… let’s not complain about the minimum wage and all that nonsense. Your opinion does not matter. It’s a select group of people who the minimum wage affects not in the least who make the decisions around here. Get over it, welcome to America!