Letter to the Editor:

I understand that some may support the minimum wage increase July1, however, I do not. I am an Economics minor with enough courses under my belt to understand the economic impact of a minimum wage hike. Dr. Grabowski covered the main reasons why it can be detrimental pretty well in the article, “Students feel breathing room with dollar raise,” June 14.

Not every business will be matching an individual’s raises over the years to the minimum wage increase. Example: Joe is a college student who started making $6.50 minimum wage in 2005 and earned raises that brought him to $7.50. If his employer chooses (which they CAN) not to match his raise to the minimum wage increase, he is being paid no more than a starting employee. Even though Joe has worked with that company for two years, he no longer has any incentive to be more productive. A loss of productivity could be considered a cash loss to an employer.

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My employer most likely will not be matching our pay raises to the minimum wage increase, considering they didn’t in 2005 when the minimum wage was initially raised. Where is the incentive for my coworkers and me to work any harder, or even at the same level we are currently working? What keeps an employee from simply obtaining a different job that will pay a starting amount in the same ballpark as what they’re being paid after multiple years?

Granted, that is not a decision made by the state, but it is government interfering with business and business making a decision based on that interference.

While this may benefit some individuals in the state, I strongly believe it is simply more damaging economically than beneficial. I also believe it is damaging to the spirit and work ethic of the individual.

I have a question for Kris Johnson, who is quoted as saying, “…I think those people should go out and get an education to get a job.”; Who, pray tell, would work the minimum wage jobs if everyone had “an education”? A lifetime of being served by 15-19-year-olds who aren’t exactly always customer service savvy? What do they care if you are or are not satisfied? They’re just going to “go get an education” to get a better job anyways…right?

‘

Bri Gross,

Junior

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Sociology