Hourly Wage Increase

Laborers rally for $11 an hour wage requirement

Austin American Statesman- October 24, 2013

1.   http://www.statesman.com/news/news/laborers-rally-for-11-an-hour-wage-requirement/nbX7z/

2.   Category of Issue: Business / Economy

3.   Level of Issue: State

4.   The article is concerning a potential policy that is being considered to help a problem/issue that individuals/families face

5.   This article is important to individuals/families because the current amount of minimum wage is not enough to keep everyone out of poverty.

6.   Laborers throughout Austin are demanding a pay increase of $11 an hour applying to companies that receive economic incentive packages. This essentially means that a construction worker would be receiving this pay increase. I can’t say that I blame them either. The current minimum wage does not seem to cut it when trying to cover the cost of living. There are many people currently still falling under the poverty line that actually work full time and making minimum wage. I do not think that this is the exact way that the problem should be solved, though. I feel like if we are going to actually be able to cure poverty in America, that minimum wage will have to increase. But then again, it is not always that simple. Wouldn’t the increase in wages also cause an increase of inflation? This problem cannot simply be fixed because it is not plainly black and white. Aside from the increases in wage, I feel like wages should be the same across the nation (at least for food servers anyway). Beginning Rant: As a food server, so often has it occurred that guests would not leave me a decent tip. I noticed it to come from people who were visiting from out of state. The minimum wage for servers in other states is significantly higher than those in Texas; therefore, it is appropriate to leave a 10% tip to those food servers. Because they assume that food servers in Texas and other like states make more than $2.13 an hour, food servers like me often do not make the amount of money we feel is appropriate. So do I support and agree with the laborers demanding a pay increase? Absolutely; however, I feel like it should not be for them alone.