From This article:
Wednesday, April 15, 2015, a wide spread and highly coordinated protest emerged in more than 200 U.S. cities as workers decried the existing minimum wage. It seemed clear that the event was coordinated because the signs bantered about were of professional quality and the event occurred simultaneously in a number of communities across the country. However, what began as a demand for higher wages may actually cause an unintended result. In fact, those who are protesting might do well to read this and give careful thought to their actions.
Many workers, mostly fast food employees across the country, were rallying for a minimum wage of $15 dollars an hour on Wednesday.
This article talks about whether or not the minimum wage should be raised. It also lays out an interesting explanation of the minimum wage and the origin of the controversy surrounding it. The article also talks about the consequences that might result from a raise of the minimum wage. Do you consent to raising the minimum wage up to $15? Do you think that businesses, when pressured by the government, will turn to kiosks leaving many people jobless?
I know there are arguments on both side about minimum wage because the current wage doesn't consist of enough earnings for a living wage. However there has already been systematization in fast food restaurants where they are replacing workers with machines in order to reduce costs. Furthermore, conservatives hold the view that fast food restaurants are seen as a "starter/high school job" and should not be paid more than others in military or government services. There are a lot of sides to the conversation and raising minimum wage could definitely cut jobs at the lower income jobs because restaurants will streamline the process in order to save money.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of raising the minimum wage is a very complicated and interesting one, enough so for me to write my SIP on it. However, without getting into to too many details, there are some positives and some negatives. While jobs in the food industry aren't consider jobs for adults to hold and try to earn a living on, that is the reality for a lot of people, so I do think a higher wage is necessary. However, I don't think that $15 an hour is realistic, even if instituted very gradually. Raising the minimum wage doesn't always equate to a rise in unemployment and low skill workers being fired. There are many ways for businesses to absorb the cost of a raise in minimum wage. For instance, they can raise the price of their products by a very small amount that won't drive away the consumer.There will always be a conversation about the minimum wage, and I think it should be raised, but not by almost double like what people are protesting for.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shelby and Taylor in both that if worker's minimum wage were increased then the consumer price would increase to compensate for the change and that the minimum wage should not increase by double otherwise it could surpass the wage of government and military services. Furthermore, if minimum wage were to increase and consumer price increased how would the number of visitors to the United States be impacted? Would there be less since those on vacation would have to pay more?
ReplyDeleteI think minimum wage could be raised slightly but fixing it to $15 is too high. Reiterating what people have already stated, if this happened prices would go up as would unemployment. I could definitely see this pushing fast food restaurants to use more kiosks. Mass implementation of kiosks would allow businesses to operate more efficiently and allow business owners to cut down on staff. I know in Europe, almost every McDonalds we went to had kiosks that would take your order and payment so I think this type of technology will become the norm in the US fairly quickly if minimum wage was raised.
ReplyDeleteI find it difficult to find a happy medium between what should be paid as minimum wage and what is too much. The whole premise of minimum wage is to be able live off of it, not to live comfortably. While it would be ideal to leave nobody with wants in society, I do not think that is achievable no matter what the system is because people are inherently rent-seekers.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with ideas that have already been stated that I don't think there is a way to both raise minimum wage as well as keep prices the way they are currently.While I see the need to raise the minimum wage in order to give adult workers within the food industry I wage to live on, there isn't a way to raise the minimum wage and keep the prices the way they are. As Taylor stated by raising the minimum wage, companies will just increase their prices in order to offset the increase in wage thus not fixing the issue, but raising prices.
ReplyDelete