Minimum Wage Poised To Increase

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Posted: 7:57 AM Jul 16, 2008
Last Updated: 10:13 PM Jul 16, 2008
Reporter: Heather King

23 comments

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Workers who make minimum wage are about a week away from receiving an increase in their pay.

The current federal minimum wage is $5.85. On Thursday, July 24, the wage will increase to $6.55.

There is also a scheduled minimum wage pay increase for 2009. On July 24, 2009, the wage increases again to $7.25.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Jul 18, 2008 at 10:17 AM
As long as there is inflation, our economy will suffer. This raise may not do a lot, but heck, it'll make them feel good; that's the mindset of the government. I agree that some people are more deserving of a raise than others. It really bothers me when people who are working with the public don't smile, talk, or even say a simple thank you. Perhaps there needs to be an evaluation of employees. Those who do their jobs adequately should get a raise, and those who don't should continue receiving the lowest wages.

Posted by: Mike on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Rasing min. wage will do nothing but hurt everybody.Sure it sounds good but think about the repercusions.You give the hamburger flipper a raise you then have to go up on the hamburger.How about the trained professional who is making 15-20 an hour,all the sudden the untrained burger flipper is making half.So now you pay the other person more,and so on.It will do nothing but put us in a deeper resession.

Posted by: MADDOG Location: U.S.A. on Jul 17, 2008 at 06:31 PM
People have a right to say what they feel.If you don't like it ,,,DON"T READ IT.

Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane,NC on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Today I was in a gas station in LaGrange for some smokes, once the attendant ask what I wanted she never spoke to me again, she was too busy talking to her friend hanging around drinking soda. Does this person deserve a 12% raise?

Posted by: TW Location: Pitt County on Jul 17, 2008 at 04:21 PM
While some people may work hard for Min. wage;more than a few would be over paid at $1 per hour, for their productivity.How many times has some one been to wally world or a fast food joint to see 1-2 people working and 3-5 standing around watching them work?

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Dave, I don't have to worry about wages, but I have a heart. Now, go in the field and pick my tobacco. "Wonder about me", I agree that everyone should get a raise, but guess what? The same people would be up here complaining about something then too. Some people never seem to be satisfied.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: north carolina on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:42 AM
do the math people who can live on minimun wage at 6.55 per hour that is 52.40 per day less taxes. not very much left over for basics

Posted by: Devil Dog Location: New Bern on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:47 AM
To Dave...Jack-in-The-Box is the initial test site. If successful, the other major chains (ie MacD's,etc) will follow.

Posted by: David Location: Manteo on Jul 17, 2008 at 02:04 AM
Big WHOOP! Like that is enough to meet the cost of living these days? I could see $7 ten years ago. But today, minimum wage should be closer to like $10.

Posted by: Dave Location: Greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Devil Dog, you should realize that this is Eastern NC and very very few people have heard of a Jack-in-the-Box.

Posted by: MADDOG Location: U.S.A. on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:39 PM
To witn,,,Where is my comment? Why did it not make it up here?

Posted by: Dave Location: Greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 08:10 PM
Blog Refuter is just mad because they didn't promote him to Crew Trainer at Taco Bell.

Posted by: Devil Dog Location: New Bern on Jul 16, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Jack-in-the-Box is testing a computer that will take your order thru the drive-in window. This will eliminate the need for people to take your order. I don't have any heartburn for increasing the minimum wage; however the business will cut jobs or increase prices to compensate for the loss of revenue. If you are working for $7.00 per hour, you still will be on welfare if you have a family and on one income.

Posted by: Wonder bout me Location: Williamston on Jul 16, 2008 at 03:53 PM
To Blog Refuter: I dont think that no one is downing the people that work for minimum wage, they are just voicing their opinion on what its gonna do for the ones that make a bit more than min.wage--and the answer is nothing!! I say congrats to the ones thats gonna get the increase but if you look at it, they/we will spend all extra income on trying to commute back and forth to work to even get the pay. So, eventually the ones now that make min wage will catch up with the "big dogs"per hr. make you wonder dont it? Why not give everybody a raise and call it a day--

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Jul 16, 2008 at 03:00 PM
The selfishness of some people disgusts me. We need people out here to do these low-paying jobs, and some of you don't even approve of them receiving a raise. How ungrateful can you be? Yes, it may be hard for you to make it, but can you imagine how hard it may be for someone who is not even making $7/hr? They have to make a living too. Then, everyone wonders why these people are on welfare...If you ask me, many of them have a lot more sense than some of you.

Posted by: Tim Location: Greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 02:32 PM
I wonder how many people are paid the minimum wage. I guess tips will go up to 20% next.

Posted by: Tammy Location: Williamston on Jul 16, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Its good for the younger generation or for the ones that work at a minimum wage job but like one of the other posts say: it doesnt do anything for the ones that make a bit more than minimum wage because we will not get an increase in pay only an increase to make it out here in the already currupt world. They are talking about sending out another stimulus package but you guessed it, Bush dont want it to happen right now. Thats a shame b/c alot of people are loosing what they have worked so hard to get and maintain but the economy is terrible. Maybe/hopefully they will pass the bill to send out another check soon--but that only helps for the moment. I say start sending checks monthly to every household that makes less than 25,000 annually til something better comes along--whose with me on that proposal? I can wish cant I? lol

Posted by: Question? Location: Martin Co. on Jul 16, 2008 at 01:56 PM
What determines the minimum wage? State and Federal are different so which do you go by? This is a croc!

Posted by: Restaurant Location: Belhaven on Jul 16, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I employ a lot of high school kids at my restaurant in the afternoon. I can't afford to keep paying them more for the lower quality of work I get from them compared to adults. I can only raise my prices so much before customers decide it's cheaper to eat at home. To me this a lose-lose situation.

Posted by: Dave Location: Greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:49 AM
From what I understand, when the minimum wage goes up, employers lay off 1 or 2 people to make up for the increase. Therefore, this is not a positive as some prople think it is.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:46 AM
I have worked and maintained a home as a single parent on little more than minimum wage. But that was in 2002-2003. I don't see how people are doing it these days!! I'm very sure that it is to the point of choosing between filling up your tank, and putting food on the table. It's ridiculous! Big Government isn't out to help anyone but themselves. I think I'm moving to Mexico.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Washington on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Here we go again. Prices of everything will be going up.

Posted by: Ted Location: Greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Great! I'm already struggling to make ends meet. Now the minimum wage going to raise again and everything else will go up with it while my pay stays the same. By my math this is about a 12% raise, not bad considering State employees are expecting only a 2.75% and many in the private sector will receive 0%. This raise will be passed on to the rest of us in the form of higher prices for goods and service.

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