Forum Post: Connecticut Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $9.75 and Index It to Inflation
Posted 12 years ago on March 14, 2012, 12:31 a.m. EST by richardkentgates
(3269)
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That is great. It just takes one state to start this thing moving in the right direction.
If the minimum wage had been indexed to inflation since 1970, it would be about $11.00 per hour now. This bill represents progress in the context of the current political climate, but still does not keep up with people's real needs. A crumb is better than nothing, but it is still but a crumb.
While I am happy that some progress is being made, it is still imperative that the political climate, indeed the entire mind-set that creates it, be changed fundamentally. A federal living wage, rather than a state minimum one, based on regional costs of living, should be seen as something utterly reasonable instead of something that meets with protest from any quarter. The 1% has brainwashed too many into believing that anybody who works full time at a job doesn't have a fundamental right to adequately provide for his or her family.
I get that for sure epa, but they'll just hire more part time help.
How about we double that, for under 40hrs, to encourage full time employment?
I'm not sure it would bear scrutiny. That would mean someone working two part time jobs an earn double that of a full time worker. It would also mean different pay or the same work.
There should instead be a real push to unionize as many places as possible, to make laws that make unionization easy, so that part time workers don't replace full time ones. And there should be laws passed to make all health care and pension benefits available, from the employer, to every worker, full AND part time alike. That would do a lot to dis-incentivize the practice. It is those benefits, not the wage, that employers seek to minimize when hiring part time workers. After all, the wage would be the same regardless.
Unions? With benefits???
You and I on the same side of this fight, so you know that's no easy sell either.
The thing is, unions don't really fit in the really small places like ice cream shops, or small corner stores, but the bigger places like nationally operated dollar stores and warehouses would benefit greatly..
Sure, that is not an easy sell. But that's what I mean about the work that's needed to change, not simply the laws, but the mindset behind them. That Unions are viewed as the enemy is a huge part of the problem.
Unions represent industries, not just particular small shops. So any small shop can join a larger union. I used to organize for the union at restaurants that had 20 employees, and even half that number.
It will be though trying organize places like Wallywold and HomeDepot.
I'm in full agreement that it has to happen.
The two tier wage system needs to get tossed out too.
To be sure, none of this will be easy. It certainly hasn't been so far.
But maybe, just maybe, things have finally gotten bad enough, and clearly, that people will finally start to realize who the enemy really is. OWS has been working hard to raise that consciousness. And we all have to do our part to help raise it more.
The actual physical (and emotional) work involved in unionizing would be made a lot easier then.
$9.75 w COLA is still a step in the correct direction, mitigated of course by Connecticut's high cost of living.
It going to take time to correct misperceptions of unions.
Agreed on all counts.
And it is not, in my view, simply a matter of changing perceptions about unions. I see that as a subset of a much larger group of perceptions about economic fairness and worker's rights as a whole.
Economic fairness and workers rights, is what unions have always been about.
Hand in glove.
Absolutely; I would not have organized for them - sometimes literally at the risk of my life - for all those years had I believed otherwise.
I thank you for your courage and service....................:)
You're an unsung hero.
I'm no hero. I simply wanted justice for myself and my friends. I hated being a victim. Pretty selfish, really.
I agree with what you are essentially saying, but how can a federal minimum wage better address the regional economy than a state minimum wage?
By pegging it to local data collected by the IRS and Census bureau, along with the data they already collect on local costs of living, updated every ten years.
Sounds promising.
Wow - Fantastic!
...right, it's like they are starting to pay attention or something :)
Wow, wonder if that has anything to do with us? :)
lol, one can only hope.
low bid
Agreed with you and epa1nter below, but it's a starting pont, and a good sign that whatever we are doing is working and starting to have an effect!
true
Not even close, it's a waste of time. Quadruple it and we're getting somewhere.
What? You wouldn't take it?
How much are you makin' now?
Indeed, a starting point is good. As it's going to be evaluated annually against inflation, I'd say they have a good grip on a realistic path.
The indexing gives at least some mobility.
Always a good thing.
So what? That only means we are making the same amount relative to inflation, not that we end up making a living wage. I will say it again, if this is passed, it will end up being permanent. End Of Story. All it will do is give people a reason NOT to do anything about income disparity and I can't say it enough! Instead of inflation being a good time to mention income gap, it will give people the chance to say "Well the minimum wage is tied to inflation, so what are you whining about?"
Even if the minimum wage is raised to $150/hour, it still wouldn't make up for the fact that the owner of the company makes a quarter million a year.
I'm just sayin', it's not going to happen over night, and every little bit does help. I know, I've been there. Every step, moves you closer.
So, how much did you say you were making?
What? $8.75/hour. Scroll up...?
Mark my words, this measure will be nothing more than a carrot on a stick to keep us working for minimum wage and nothing more. A dollar here, a dollar there. Let them eat cake and shut up so I can keep making half a million a year.
Oh my, sorry, were you home schooled?
It's a nine, not an eight.
And like I said double it for under 40hrs to encourage full time employment.
there are not enough jobs as it is
perhaps people should work less time and share the wealth with the unemployed
That would seem to be the catch 22, but things at least appear to be turning a bit now.
Job growth is improving slowly but surely, and that's a good sign in a recession.
Sooner or later they have to improve money flow at the bottom so they can suck it all up again......:)
ah slushie economics
It's been that way forever........:)
The bottom running dry is why it started to tip over.
No, I mean I PERSONALLY am making $8,75/hour. I thought that is what you were asking, since you said "How much are you making now?". Were you public schooled?
And besides, stereotypes are needless and culturally profane. I thought better of you until you started stereotyping people. What if you had said "Oh my, sorry. Are you homosexual?" Please don't hate.
Ooops my bad, sorry.
I was multi schooled.
Retired, fixed income. I was at $27hr when I retired.
Hetro, married 35yrs.
I have been experienced.......:)
See above.
$8.75. If we settle for this it will be "good enough" and it won't be a starting point, it will be eternity. We need to demand real change for once. People will think they can give us a dollar or two here and there and that will make it okay for the CEO to make 6 or 7 figures.
It's $9.75, and it's indexed to inflation. Gives them an incentive to keep that down.
You gotta start someplace, and this approach is two pronged. .
Would be better at $15.00 that is a good entry level almost anywhere. $9.75 not so much unless you don't have a life and have a shit load of overtime.