Michigan's minimum wage rises to $7.40 Tuesday

[tom]

Union All The Way wrote:

<quoted text>
Stop your rant on union then. Stupid? Me? Because I work for a big 3 or is it just being a union member? How am I stupid with 32yrs and retired with a business on the side at 53 yrs old. Stupid? I think not Tommy boy, look in the mirror at the monkey!!!!

I didn't call you stupid. I said it would be stupid not to see what's happening to the big 3, and what will continue in the future to them, and blame that on some ceo's insane pay.
There are a lot of reasons why GM is declining, and high labor cost is a big part, like it or not.
I've made a good living myself relying on my intelligence and talents as have many others, although times are getting much tougher for everybody but the oil guys.

[Keith]

say what wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh...so we've gone from 'ignorant' to 'it's not fair'. I take it, then, that you acknowledge that unions have been responsible for the workers having access to that benefit? Whether you agree with it or not is your choice, but it sounds to me like you're just cheesed because you have to pay for your own.
Let's add a few other benefits that unions have won for the workers.
If you have paid vacation, thank a union.
If you have paid sick time, thank a union.
If you have paid maternity leave, thank a union.
If you've had paid time off to plan/attend the funeral of a spouse, parent or child, thank a union.
If you get paid overtime for working more than 40 hours, thank a union.
If you get or plan to get a pension, thank a union.
If you get paid holidays, thank a union.

If your paying two hours of your earnings per month to the Union an getting screwed....

Thank the Union

[Karen]

Being in a union is like bad sex.... You know you got screwed, but before you realized it they just packed up an ran for the border.

[Average Joe]

If your tired of paying a years wages or more for a decent car, thank the union.

[Mark]

say what wrote:

<quoted text>
What makes you think things will stay as they are if unions cease to exist? All you need to do is look at the comments of some of the posters here to see that it wouldn't take long for the benefits that the unions and union workers fought for to start dropping by the wayside.
If you don't like your state's or governments policies, how about voting against them or working to get them changed? Unions are.

I vote every election, but you don't have to look too far to see unions out of control NEA for one. N YC has 3000 teachers that are paid to show up to a bldg and not teach or go into a classroom at all, for they are a danger to the kids...can't be fired for they have tenure....union out of touch, out of control, and damaging future generations to come.

[hoHOho]

Let's drink to that!

[Barb]

Jonbob wrote:

Yet another sad day in Michigan history.
Here we are in a state-wide recession, unemployment is high, and we're putting additional burdens on employers who are already struggling.
Great thinking, Jenny.
Vote Republican, people!

You've got to be kidding! Why deny some people a decent wage (if you consider $7.00+ a decent wage) just so others can be greedy and have more. How long did you think we could pay rock bottom prices for goods & services and still pay high wages to only some people. Vote democrat for fairness.

[wondering in Edmore]

It is good that min.wage went up, but at the same time, how can we pay out more money when there is none? Just like the stimulas check, sure we all needed it and most of used it, but where did that money really come from? As a government we are many trillions in debt, but some how money keeps coming? I feel for those that are trying to survive on min. wage-it sucks. When are the higher uppers in this world going to step out into the realworld and join us?

[Barb]

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
You are kidding right? THese 20 million didn't come over overnite. It took decades. So yes there were many more than 20 million. Say what you mean. You are really mad about the Mexican (Illegal)Immigrants, not the Euro or Asian or Cuban. That sir is racism. The Irish were given guns immediately off the boat and told to go fight for 'their country' during the potato famine/civil war. Where you do have a point in the argument is that they all should be made to acclimate and speak English as were the Acadians in Maine, and the Italians in NY. So really what we want is for them to register, acclimate and become citizens so they can fully experience the freedoms of our culture.

Amen! Institutional racism is still very much alive & well in America unfortunately.

[southsiderosie]

I'm a bit amazed by all of the people on this thread who say "oh, just get another job".

What does it say about this country when both parents work, and can still barely afford to make ends meet? What does this do to family life?

Almost 40 million uninsured? A minimum wage that is less than I made as a teenage lifeguard over 10 years ago?

Employers don't give a rats ass about the lives of their employees, they just want to pay people as little as possible. People stop blaming yourselves for this dysfunctional system, and start trying to change it.

[The way to Freedom]

Average Joe wrote:

If your tired of paying a years wages or more for a decent car, thank the union.

Yes you are right, thank the union because if the Republicans get their way, it will take 2 decades to buy a car and thats not because the car price went up either.

[practicalgirl]

wondering in Edmore wrote:

It is good that min.wage went up, but at the same time, how can we pay out more money when there is none? Just like the stimulas check, sure we all needed it and most of used it, but where did that money really come from? As a government we are many trillions in debt, but some how money keeps coming? I feel for those that are trying to survive on min. wage-it sucks. When are the higher uppers in this world going to step out into the realworld and join us?

Minimum wage is for lower paying jobs, fast food joints, cashier of 24/7 store or maybe at a theater. Kinda makes sense to keep it low. These are typically jobs for high school or college students. In this economy where we are all scrambling for any job available those low paying jobs are becoming valuable. Personally, I don't think our (Dem) Governor is doing enough to get people back to work. Raising the min wage is a cop-out!!!!!

[ladydragonfly]

Atreides wrote:

There is a fairness here that has to be considered. In the Ninties, we as a country pushed people off of welfare to join the work force. That was a good thing. Now, we need to ensure that those same people can provide for themselves and their families. While $7.40 isn't enough, it is a start.
It would be better if the wage increases came voluntarily from employers. But company owners being human tend to NOT hand out wage increses willingly.

And how are others like "Displaced Worker" in the above post supposed support their families when lose their job so others can make a couple dollars more an hour? There is something seriously wrong with that picture.

[ladydragonfly]

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
Bring me your tired, poor....ring any bells. Even Ronald Reagan and JFK had the same policy...if you yearn for freedom...come here...Illegals should legalize themselves and stay,,,we did that for your forefathers too.

My husband's parents came from The Netherlands. They had to go to Canada first and wait before they could come here. They had to have a sponsor who would find them a legal job before they could even come into the country. They followed the rules and came in legally. That is what this country did for them and that is what they will do for the "legal" immigrants coming here. The "illegals" need to go home.

[Seenitbefore]

practicalgirl wrote:

<quoted text>
Minimum wage is for lower paying jobs, fast food joints, cashier of 24/7 store or maybe at a theater. Kinda makes sense to keep it low. These are typically jobs for high school or college students. In this economy where we are all scrambling for any job available those low paying jobs are becoming valuable. Personally, I don't think our (Dem) Governor is doing enough to get people back to work. Raising the min wage is a cop-out!!!!!

I agree with what you have said Practicalgirl, excepting for one thing.

All "conservatives" SHOULD be willing to tell you government has no business interfering with private business. That SHOULD also be true in the converse of "getting people back to work". Unless that would mean giving the people government jobs and creating them if necessary. I do think it's acceptable for the Governor to intercede and try to entice business back into the State and in helping them to stay in State.

However, it is the businesses that have chosen to leave for "greener pastures". If the people are so desperate to gain more business they are going to have to make up their minds that all the taxes to support the very "socialistic" programs such as roads, bridges, water systems, school systems, etc. are going to be burdened by the worker's taxes because business doesn't want to have any financial responsibility in the very infrastructure they are able to make profits from. And those very businesses are going to bemoan that wages high enough for the workers to be able to afford to live plus carry the burden of all those taxes impedes business' ability to make a profit.

Basically we are dealing with the trust fund baby syndrome when it comes to business. They want everything in their favor without having to shoulder any of the responsibilities that go with the benefits.

I for one have watched over decades business getting more and more "breaks" while they cry more and more about not getting enough. All in the name of providing jobs that they don't want to have to pay livable wages on because that hinders their profit making abilities.

[jlk]

3 blind mice wrote:

we all whine about illegal immigrants?
and why?
well, its not like me as a US citizen with a social security number and who actually claims my income can go sign up for welfare with my 6 kids and get my rent,electric,heat,food stamps for free, and then take a cash job paying 5 bucks an hour under the table picking cucumbers or fruit.
5 bucks an hour is fine if all your bills are being paid by someone else.......
me, and alot of others like me being legal US citizens who pay taxes for all these freebies for others dont qualify for squat.
but yeah..i guess im just whining.
but thats fine, your turn at the whine and government cheese station just hasent come around yet,
but i hope you enjoy it when it does.

Growers employing pickers are required to pay minimum wage just like any other business. Most growers pay piece rate where the wages exceed minimum and have for a long time.

[say what]

ladydragonfly wrote:

<quoted text>
And how are others like "Displaced Worker" in the above post supposed support their families when lose their job so others can make a couple dollars more an hour? There is something seriously wrong with that picture.

So your philosophy is basically,'equal poverty for all' and 'as long as the other guy is just as bad off as me, it's all good'?
Workers aren't generally displaced so another worker can make a higher salary; they are displaced because the company doesn't need or can't afford as many workers as they once did. They guy who's left? He may make a bit more, but he/she is often being required to do more work to take up the slack of the smaller workforce.
Times are tough all over, but to begrudge someone a decent wage because someone else was let go is a somewhat warped view of 'fair'.

[Seenitbefore]

say what wrote:

<quoted text>
So your philosophy is basically,'equal poverty for all' and 'as long as the other guy is just as bad off as me, it's all good'?
Workers aren't generally displaced so another worker can make a higher salary; they are displaced because the company doesn't need or can't afford as many workers as they once did. They guy who's left? He may make a bit more, but he/she is often being required to do more work to take up the slack of the smaller workforce.
Times are tough all over, but to begrudge someone a decent wage because someone else was let go is a somewhat warped view of 'fair'.

"but to begrudge someone a decent wage because someone else was let go is a somewhat warped view of 'fair'"

Kinda like the ones that begrudge others who make a decent wage simply because they THINK that is what's dragging the company(ies) down? Plenty of those on here.

[Union All The Way]

Seenitbefore wrote:

<quoted text>
"but to begrudge someone a decent wage because someone else was let go is a somewhat warped view of 'fair'"
Kinda like the ones that begrudge others who make a decent wage simply because they THINK that is what's dragging the company(ies) down? Plenty of those on here.

Right here in black and white.

[Union All The Way]

tom wrote:

<quoted text> I didn't call you stupid. I said it would be stupid not to see what's happening to the big 3, and what will continue in the future to them, and blame that on some ceo's insane pay.
There are a lot of reasons why GM is declining, and high labor cost is a big part, like it or not.
I've made a good living myself relying on my intelligence and talents as have many others, although times are getting much tougher for everybody but the oil guys.

better read #148 again.You did.