J. Medlin
Robert ReichIt’s been 13 years since we raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. That’s the longest period without a raise in the history of the minimum wage. That is egregious.
Oasus Plainsview 
@rbreich even $15 an hour is ridiculous now
Gigawatt121@rbreich But how would small business function without slave labor?!?
Scenario@rbreich A footlong Subway sandwich used to be $5. Today it’s $12. 🥖
peteo@rbreich @rbreich made me think of todays local headline https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/130827499/mcdonalds-in-queenstown-pays-28-an-hour-for-new-staff--no-experience-necessary
#NZ #minimumwage has gone from $12.50 to $21.20 in the last 13 years, but we don't have tips, and please don't ask about our increases in cost of living..
Love Zhaoying@rbreich part of the problem is, our leaders don't know what words like "egregious" mean. ("Shouldn't it be I-Gregious by now? E-terms are out of style.")
@rbreich Greedy CEOs should be ashamed!
🌈 ✨Anxious Noodle Animal✨ 🌈@rbreich and those workers are some of the most mistreated and underrepresented people. They pull all the heavy weight and get paid a means where they have to choose between eating tonight or paying the electric
Nutriamix@rbreich
Yes, it is egregious, since the actual “minimum” wage should be no less than $35 per hour, after all withholding.
Yes, it is egregious, since the actual “minimum” wage should be no less than $35 per hour, after all withholding.
Bc Clarity Carlton-Martin@rbreich At what point does it become a vestige of slavery. Neo-plantation? The bottom is bottomless in other words.
Insubstantial Pageant
Doesn't Matter@rbreich i can't imagine doing a mind numbingly boring repetitive task... or even worse, having to take abuse from the public, for an hour just to get 7 fucking dollars.
@CAnxiolytic @rbreich some people have no choice. You are one of the lucky ones, appreciate what you have.
GingerAsgard@rbreich wow.. definitely people aren't able to survive on that. Here in Canada, most provinces like mind in Nova Scotia have a minimum wage of $13.35 - $13.60 & as of April 1 to $14.35
@rbreich it is $15.65 an hour up here in British Columbia.
Cathy@rbreich Seems longer.
How ae the economies of the various US states that use the federal minimum, vs those states that have a higher state minimum wage?
Darlene Cypser@pbarden Much better in states with higher minimum wages.
SydRaccoon@rbreich Agreed!
The minimum wage should be adjusted quarterly via the NLRB instead of it being congress' job.
They've proven themselves incapable of preserving the minimum wage as it was intended (aka: a living wage).
@SydRaccoon @rbreich It should auto-adjust like it does in several state. NLRB is not appropriate.
@DarleneCypser @rbreich That's a much better idea
Alex@rbreich You'd think all the big #corporations would jump at raising the #minimumwage, so they can blame it for #inflation. I mean, sure, they have to look like they're against it, but behind the scenes, they'd do what they can to make it happen. Or am I being too #conspiratorial?
Max Ganz II 🇺🇦@rbreich I may be completely wrong, but as I understand it, a minimum wage effectively forbids any work which produces less wealth per hour than that wage. The very poor, who cannot even produce that much wealth when they work, suffer by it.
Serial Greyhound Adopter@rbreich A friend of mine once opined that the minimum wage and a six-pack of beer track together. Only swill costs less than the minimum wage lately.
Shiro@rbreich According to this news report, most Americans won't take a job paying less than $74,000 a year - so minimum wage is kind of a mute point... https://nypost.com/2022/12/21/salary-expectations-for-american-workers-hits-new-high-survey/
Rhiannon@rbreich Unacceptable and intended
@rbreich it’s basically less than 5.25 inflation adjusted… however labor shortages in many sectors of “minimum wage jobs” seem to be self correcting to a large degree.
Mark@rbreich And this is why we don’t want Social Security to be part of the discretionary budget, dependent on the political whims of a balky Congress for annual reauthorization.
@rbreich What about the argument that if you raise it 1.3 million people would lose their jobs and the cost of everything would rise?
JCheray@rbreich disabled workers in 47 states in the union get paid less than that as it is still legal in those states to pay them a sub-minimum wage. Kansas is one of those states.
Abstract Drift@rbreich our leaders continue to fail us.
Nicklas Johnson 🏳️🌈
Bart Graham@rbreich
Outrageous!!
Outrageous!!
Deborah Robinson@rbreich I'm in Canada and I cannot believe how low your min wage is. They need to calculate what a living wage is, and pay people that as a minimum.
SardonicAnthony 
@rbreich The fact that it’s only $7.25 and hour is an insult to every American by half. It should be at least $15.
SilentwolfBig businesses doesn't want to pay their employees a lot of money which is why they "bribed" most of Republicans to do their bidding. These money they paid out could have been put to good use!!!
The Chad 🇵🇹@rbreich it's worse...
We've been coasting in trickle down hell for over 40 years now. It's simple, all of the politicians that say they care, they don't. Every initiative to correct course has been a bandaid on a sucking chest wound.
The oligarchs have taken over.
@rbreich can thank the former DINO from Arizona. Who thought it was cute to screw millions of Americans the chance to make a living wage.
I started working at the zoo here in El Paso, Texas for $5.25/hr in the early 80's. Over 8 years later, I was making $6.17 an hour for taking my life in my hands very day as a zookeeper, no upwards mobility, no OT. Same in the early 70's when I worked for Lone Star Company (now defunct). I was making $450/wk and had to sign a contract to work OT for halftime.