Minimum Wage Increases in Seven States:

Citizens of seven states in the U.S., will see a raise to the minimum wage today. Arizonia,Colorado,Ohio,Oregon,Vermont, and Washington workers will benefit from an increase to their minimum wage. People are calling this action, a much needed raise. Is it really a raise or are the states keeping the working poor at the same level as the prices of goods as they rise?

When I think of a raise, I think of earning more money; staying a float or current with prices is not a raise. You aren't gaining anything, you aren't losing anything. The numbers change, but your spending power is the same. That is why there is a movement to raise the minimum wage to ten dollars an hour building in the United States. You aren't going to be rich at this amount, but a worker has a bit more buying power. They are slightly above-slightly.

Both Arizonia and Montana will raise their minimum wage to $7.35 today. That is a ten cents raise. If you think about how much a gallon of gas costs that ten cents doesn't seem like very much. People who receive tips will see $4.35. Why do we even tip? All workers should get paid minimum wage. I tip well, but I hate to tip. Why should I have to pay for my food in a cafe and then pay the person to serve it to me? It makes no sense to me that I have to feel obligated to tip.

Oregon is getting closer to the ten dollar an hour minimum wage I would like to see implemented. Today, Oregonians will see their minimum wage increase to $8.50 an hour. That is a far cry better than ten cents, but the cost of living is high in Oregon. Vermont follows with a minimum wage raise to $8.15 an hour. Workers who earn tips will make $3.95, with a maximum tip cap of $4.20 an hour. That is a bit better because, the employer makes up the difference in Vermont if the waitress is having a slow, tip night. Again, why do we tip in the first place?

The highest minimum wage increase will be in Washington State, at $8.67 an hour. This was enacted despite a legal challenge to have the minimum wage raise blocked. Worker's advocates prevailed and the raise goes into effect today.

The Colorado State Constitution requires that the minimum wage be adjusted annually for inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Colorado. This means that the people of expensive cities like Denver, will need to survive on $7.36 an hour and if they make tips the minimum wage is $4.34.

My neighboring rust bucket State of Ohio, who has been hit on hard times like us Michiganders have a bit more complicated of a system. Today their non-tipped employees, minimum wage is being raised to $7.40. They aren't at the bottom of the list! The tipped employees will be making $3.70 an hour. That rings amoral to me. Then, they have this caveat that if the employers gross $271,000 or less per year, they get to pay their employees, $7.25 an hour for minimum wage. Unbelievable!

Now, let's take a look at which states are exploiting their kids: Washington and Ohio. Washington State is paying 14 and 15 year old workers only 85% of the $8.67 an hour minimum wage. If those kids are doing the same work of an 18 year old, why should they get paid less? I see that as the equivalent of paying a man more money for the same job as a woman.

Ohio with its more complicated minimum wage scale, is paying its 14 and 15 year old workers $7.25 an hour. The federal minimum wage is $7.25, so the argument can be made they are doing better than adults in states that are operating by Federal guidelines, but they are getting paid less than other Ohioans.

After all this eye opening research, I decided to check my own minimum wage out in the State of Michigan. We aren't getting a raise, but we are above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Our workers make $7.40 an hour in Michigan for minimum wage this year. The last time I bought gas here in Lansing, Michigan it was $3.15 a gallon, milk was $2.50 a gallon, and renting a four bedroom home is about $700.00 a month,(if you live in an area that is a high crime neighborhood, like I do). I don't think that $7.40 goes very far here in Michigan which may explain the exodus of people to other states.

Now after having read through all this research that I have done on this New Year's morning, what do you think? Do you think the people got a raise in the true sense of what a raise is meant to be? Do you think 14 and 15 year olds should be getting paid less? How about tipping? You have the information, you decide. I would appreciate feedback in the comments section below.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

references:

Michigan,gov
Ohio.gov
Montana.gov
Arizonia.gov
Colorado.gov
Oregon.gov
Vermont.gov
Washington.gov
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