Days after minimum wage rises, Maine diner near nh cuts staff hours. (Union: neighborhood, utilities)

[kevin5098]

Originally Posted by G1..

All due respect, if an employer could be trusted to do the right thing and treat an employee the right way then there wouldn't be a need to do this.Am I talking about all employers ,no, many are great people who treat their employees very well but you know the saying, "it only takes a few bad apples to spoil it for the whole bunch".

In a free labor market nobody forces an employee to accept employment for wages that are not agreed on by both employer and employee. Trust has nothing to do with it.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by kevin5098

In a free labor market nobody forces an employee to accept employment for wages that are not agreed on by both employer and employee. Trust has nothing to do with it.

But there's a fine line between slavery and a living wage. No one should work full-time to still be living in poverty. And most people with minimum wage jobs are NOT teenagers. They are actually "breadwinners" for their household with no practical means of going to college and "bettering" themselves. There is tons of evidence on this. It is a national disgrace that despite rapidly increasing productivity in this country over the past 30 years, that wages have stagnated for the middle class.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by kevin5098

In a free labor market nobody forces an employee to accept employment for wages that are not agreed on by both employer and employee. Trust has nothing to do with it.

LOL, yeah ok.

This is just a small list of "Basic Labor Laws" in Maine,if what you are saying is true then why do you need these laws to protect employees?I mean you are saying I should not trust my employer,right?

Basics of Maine's Employment Laws - Lawyers.com

[kevin5098]

Originally Posted by nep321

But there's a fine line between slavery and a living wage. No one should work full-time to still be living in poverty. And most people with minimum wage jobs are NOT teenagers. They are actually "breadwinners" for their household with no practical means of going to college and "bettering" themselves. There is tons of evidence on this. It is a national disgrace that despite rapidly increasing productivity in this country over the past 30 years, that wages have stagnated for the middle class.

Maybe not teenagers, but definitely young and not "breadwinners" according to BLS:

https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/min.../2016/home.htm

Here is an alternative view of the productivity vs wages argument:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/timwors.../#1923682039cc

[kevin5098]

Originally Posted by G1..

LOL, yeah ok.

This is just a small list of "Basic Labor Laws" in Maine,if what you are saying is true then why do you need these laws to protect employees?I mean you are saying I should not trust my employer,right?

Basics of Maine's Employment Laws - Lawyers.com

I never said that no laws are necessary to protect employees, just that wages should be negotiated between employee and employer. I would not work for an employer I didn't trust.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by kevin5098

I never said that no laws are necessary to protect employees, just that wages should be negotiated between employee and employer. I would not work for an employer I didn't trust.

I have had jobs where I trust the employer it 's his or her managers that run the business and can't be trusted ,same thing.I say this becuase I have won legal case's against employers in both situations.

[nep321]

Originally Posted by kevin5098

I never said that no laws are necessary to protect employees, just that wages should be negotiated between employee and employer. I would not work for an employer I didn't trust.

Many employers are raking in record profits and paying ridiculously low wages. They can afford to pay a higher wage.

If an employer cannot afford to pay a minimum wage of $15 an hour or whatever, then they should restructure their business or go OUT of business. Human time is worth at least $12-15 an hour.

If employers could get away with paying $1 an hour, believe me, they would.

[kevin5098]

Originally Posted by G1..

I have had jobs where I trust the employer it 's his or her managers that run the business and can't be trusted ,same thing.I say this becuase I have won legal case's against employers in both situations.

I agree that employers and managers acting on behalf of employers should be held accountable for their actions. Taking legal action against employers that are violating the law is the right thing to do.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by nep321

Many employers are raking in record profits and paying ridiculously low wages. They can afford to pay a higher wage.

If an employer cannot afford to pay a minimum wage of $15 an hour or whatever, then they should restructure their business or go OUT of business. Human time is worth at least $12-15 an hour.

If employers could get away with paying $1 an hour, believe me, they would.

For the sake of this discussion (wait staff in restaurants being let go), that $12-15 does not include tips.


And for the record, not all employees are worth $12-15 an hour (or even $9). Perhaps forcing businesses to pay more would help them all attract better employees, but that is a whole other discussion.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by massnative71

For the sake of this discussion (wait staff in restaurants being let go), that $12-15 does not include tips.


And for the record, not all employees are worth $12-15 an hour (or even $9). Perhaps forcing businesses to pay more would help them all attract better employees, but that is a whole other discussion.

If an employee is not doing the job paying them less is not the answer,just as an employee doing the job should be paid what he is worth.I will repeat what I said earlier....it's not all employers I admit that but the few who did and do take advantage have made this happen,blame them.