MINIMUM WAGE PROTEST

Last week many fast food workers took to the picket lines to demand a living wage.  They contest that the wages they earn are not enough to provide for their families.  The protesters want the federal minimum wage to rise by more than double.  This will change the minimum wage from its current $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour. 

Most people will agree that $7.25 an hour is far too low to provide for a family.  Working at a fast food restaurant was never intended to be a career path for the masses.  These jobs are low paying for the fact that they offer young people an opportunity to gain work experience.  These workers have little or no previous experience in the workforce.  Fast food institutions are a major employer of young people with little or no current work experience. 

 These protesters should think of these jobs more like paid internships rather than careers.  There are many benefits for young workers who get their starts at these institutions… a big payday is not one of those benefits.  They are taught valuable skills which can later be used in future endeavors.  I know this first hand.  I got my start at McDonald’s when I was 16 years old.  I still use the skills I learned more than 20 years ago.

Work experience and job skills are valuable commodities for anyone seeking employment.  Experience will help workers develop skills necessary to grow their careers. 

The minimum wage is low at $7.25 but raising it to $15 would certainly cause inflation to skyrocket.  How would these workers feel if they got their $15 an hour raise and now the cost of everything they need to buy doubles?  A gradual increase should be considered as a more realistic and economical approach for all.  Keep in mind these workers applied for these jobs.  They later accepted these jobs on their own free will. 

To sum up this issue, the federal minimum wage should rise slowly.  Workers should have a plan to gain more experience and advance their careers.  Ultimately, workers should control their own destiny.

 

What are your thoughts about this issue?  I want to hear your opinion.  Thanks for reading!