Monday, April 10, 2006

Federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour beginning September 1, 1997

$5.15 per hour beginning September 1, 1997

The federal minimum wage has not been increased for more than 8 years and 7 months ago and still counting. Nineteen states and one city has seen it necessary to establish state minimum wage levels above the federal standard. Many states have established state minimum wage levels above the national level already and have additional increases scheduled for later this year and next year. Most state minimum wage levels still fall in the $6.00 to 6.99 range and the rest fall in the $7.00 to 7.40 range except for the San Francisco which is $8.50 already. Most states establish their minimum wage at the federal level or let it default to the federal level.

The Federal minimum wage does not increase automatically. Congress must pass a bill which the President signs into law in order for the minimum wage to go up.

I was surprised to find that the minimum wage in my state of New Jersey is $6.15 going to $7.15 on October 1, 2006. Do you know what the minimum wage is in your state?

I think almost 9 years is way too long for the minimum wage to increase across America and I fault my congressmen, Senators Lautenberg, (Corzine now governor on New Jersey), and representative Ferguson. How would you like to work without an increase for almost nine years?

Ralph Nader on television has stated that if the minimum wage of the 1960's had cost of living applied, the recalculated minimum wage would be just under $10.00 per hour today.

I think it is racist to keep the federal minimum wage at $5.15 per hour for illegal workers because Americans cannot live on it. It is not that Americans will not work at certain jobs, but they will work for at least some sort of decent wage.

What do you think? What is the purpose of the federal minimum wage? Do you think American business is taking unfair advantage with federal minimum wage at $5.15 per hour across the majority of the states in this country? Do you think your senators and representatives should enact a bill raising the federal minimum wage? Do you think President Bush5.15 should sign the bill if congess approves it? Would you like to work without an increase for almost nine years?

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home