San Diego considers $11.95 @hr. minimum wage

[Bill in SD, CA]

While this doesn't apply to small businesses it certainly will have a trickle down effect.

San Diego business leaders went head to head with working-class people yesterday during an emotional debate over a "living wage" proposal that proponents described as the fair thing to do and opponents called a "job killer."

The ordinance, proposed to a San Diego City Council committee by a group of mostly labor union and church representatives, would require the city to pay its own employees and workers under city contracts a minimum of $11.95 an hour if health benefits are included and $14.48 an hour if they aren't. The ordinance would affect about 2,000 employees.

'Living wage' is debated at panel

Bill

[Mike]

As much as stuff costs in California, is that enough?

[John Prophet]

What is or was the min wage before?

cuz thats wayyyyyyyyyy higher than here in Virginia.

[Mike]

Well I think minimum wage is about $7 or so...
Remember, California is a lot more expensive than Virginia.

[nunyadam]

Federal min is $5.15 an hour.

california is paying $6.75.

[Knothead]

I'm very happy to see this happening, it's something I've been screaming about for years!

Inflation over the last 30 (and more) years clouds people's reasoning, but here's some facts, and math:

When I was 17-19, I worked at a gas station/garage, as a jr. mechanic. I made minimum wage--$70/week take-home pay (remember, this is in 1972 dollars ) I shared a house with a college guy, the rent was $160/month, my end was $80. I was paying about one week's pay for rent.

My eldest daughter works at Petsmart and another place (since Petsmart will not give her 40 hrs. a week--that way, they don't have to pay perks ). SHe also makes minimum wage. Her take-home pay per week is about $185/week.

The house I lived in back then is still there, still renting--for $1250 a month. 1/2 of that would be $625/month...

See the difference?

My deal: $70/week earnings, $80/month rent.
Her deal: $185/week earnings, $625/month rent.

They can't make it!

[Pexster]

I wonder what the guy who stands around watching the rest of the crew work should get? (You know EVERY gov't work crew has at LEAST one of those!) I've always wondered why the people doing the work don't ever snap and brain the guy with one of their shovels?!

[Knothead]

Originally posted by Pexster
I wonder what the guy who stands around watching the rest of the crew work should get? (You know EVERY gov't work crew has at LEAST one of those!) I've always wondered why the people doing the work don't ever snap and brain the guy with one of their shovels?!

He shouldn't get anything...except the privilege of watching the other guys get paid!

[MTAtech]

In NY there are prevailing wage laws that require that workers and contractors must pay a certain minimum. The laws were put in place by politically connected unions. I personally did not see a need for them.

I was managing a large network contract (200 locations networked, thousands of nodes) and the contractor had to pay cable installers $54/hr. when these same people would earn $26 across the river in NJ. Of course, all the contractor's workers wanted to be working in NY and they had no incentive to complete the work quickly.

[RADAR1797]

Mike,

When I am paying over $1700/month in rent for a 1150 sqft apartment in northern VA, I think we are pretty close to the costliness in CA. BTW that is considered a deal, most places that size are going for over $2100/month. Now I know there are areas, especially the Bay area that are horribly costly too, but I also know that rent prices since the internet burst have fallen in half in many areas. The rent for the building I work in is almost a $1 million/month.

-RADAR