This is why we need a living wage

[Zombie_Pundit]

What made you think it is? Those min wage jobs are not careers.

You are not answering the question.

How did you come to the belief that the purpose of the minimum wage was not to keep workers (fulltime) above the poverty line?

Also, please consider that an entry level job is called entry level because it is an entry to a career, as you were using the term just a few posts ago.

The history of the minimum wage led me to my conclusion. Please don't ask me to google that for you.

I don't agree that min wage is a function of the poverty line. It is what the gov't stipulates as the bottom rung and entry level means entry into the workforce. Working the counter at McD's or bagging groceries is not a career. Woo.

Your assertion is becoming more rigid.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended
29 U.S.C. 201, et seq.
To provide for the establishment of fair labor standards in employments in and
affecting interstate commerce, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the “Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938”.
§ 201. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the “Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938”.
§ 202. Congressional finding and declaration of policy
(a) The Congress finds that the existence, in industries engaged in commerce or in
the production of goods for commerce, of labor conditions detrimental to the
maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and
general well-being of workers
(1) causes commerce and the channels and instrumentalities of commerce to
be used to spread and perpetuate such labor conditions among the workers of
the several States;
(2) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce;
(3) constitutes an unfair method of competition in commerce;
(4) leads to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the free
flow of goods in commerce; and
(5) interferes with the orderly and fair marketing of goods in commerce. That
Congress further finds that the employment of persons in domestic service in
households affects commerce.
(b) It is declared to be the policy of this chapter, through the exercise by Congress
of its power to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign
nations, to correct and as rapidly as practicable to eliminate the conditions above
referred to in such industries without substantially curtailing employment or earning
power.

 

[Zombie_Pundit]

While "living wage" (whatever that is) may be something above the poverty line, min wage isn't intended to provide either and full-time or part-time entry level is set by law at $7.25/hr or better. It is not a function of poverty level.

The minimum wage increases over time. Why do you think it increases over time? How do you think the increases are determined and justified?

Gov't fiat, which isn't to say they are unwarranted.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/aboutdol/history/flsa1938.htm

Goodnight

 

[Zombie_Pundit]

Why should a child of 15 with zero experience get a "living" wage for bagging groceries?

Child labor laws exclude children from the category of fulltime employees. I cannot determine what you mean by "living wage" but I'm certain it was not your intention to exclude fulltime employees from a wage above the poverty line by asking about high school children.

Since when has minimum wage only applied to fulltime workers? Is that the new socialist goal to get people off full time jobs by enacting new wage laws that only apply to full time workers?

You need to cool it with the strawmen, but at least you stopped cussing so I'll answer.

The year was 1997.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/coverage.htm
The 1996 amendments increased the minimum wage to $4.75 an hour on October 1, 1996, and to $5.15 an hour on September 1, 1997. The amendments also established a youth sub minimum wage of $4.25 an hour for newly hired employees under age 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days after being hired by their employer; revised the tip credit provisions to allow employers to pay qualifying tipped employees no less than $2.13 per hour if they received the remainder of the statutory minimum wage in tips; set the hourly compensation test for qualifying computer related professional employees at $27.63 an hour; and amended the Portal-to-Portal Act to allow employers and employees to agree on the use of employer provided vehicles for commuting to and from work, at the beginning and end of the work day, without counting the commuting time as compensable working time if certain conditions are met.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/q-a.htm
Must young workers be paid the minimum wage?
A minimum wage of $4.25 per hour applies to young workers under the age of 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer, as long as their work does not displace other workers. After 90 consecutive days of employment or the employee reaches 20 years of age, whichever comes first, the employee must receive a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009.
Other programs that allow for payment of less than the full federal minimum wage apply to workers with disabilities, full-time students, and student-learners employed pursuant to sub-minimum wage certificates. These programs are not limited to the employment of young workers.

For all other questions, please see the following link
https://www.google.com/


Goodnight

 

[RKMBrown]

Child labor laws exclude children from the category of fulltime employees. I cannot determine what you mean by "living wage" but I'm certain it was not your intention to exclude fulltime employees from a wage above the poverty line by asking about high school children.

Since when has minimum wage only applied to fulltime workers? Is that the new socialist goal to get people off full time jobs by enacting new wage laws that only apply to full time workers?

You need to cool it with the strawmen, but at least you stopped cussing so I'll answer.

The year was 1997.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/coverage.htm
The 1996 amendments increased the minimum wage to $4.75 an hour on October 1, 1996, and to $5.15 an hour on September 1, 1997. The amendments also established a youth sub minimum wage of $4.25 an hour for newly hired employees under age 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days after being hired by their employer; revised the tip credit provisions to allow employers to pay qualifying tipped employees no less than $2.13 per hour if they received the remainder of the statutory minimum wage in tips; set the hourly compensation test for qualifying computer related professional employees at $27.63 an hour; and amended the Portal-to-Portal Act to allow employers and employees to agree on the use of employer provided vehicles for commuting to and from work, at the beginning and end of the work day, without counting the commuting time as compensable working time if certain conditions are met.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/q-a.htm
Must young workers be paid the minimum wage?
A minimum wage of $4.25 per hour applies to young workers under the age of 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer, as long as their work does not displace other workers. After 90 consecutive days of employment or the employee reaches 20 years of age, whichever comes first, the employee must receive a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009.
Other programs that allow for payment of less than the full federal minimum wage apply to workers with disabilities, full-time students, and student-learners employed pursuant to sub-minimum wage certificates. These programs are not limited to the employment of young workers.

For all other questions, please see the following link
https://www.google.com/


Goodnight

97 was the dot com boom. What happened after the boom?

 

[SAYIT]

You are not answering the question.

How did you come to the belief that the purpose of the minimum wage was not to keep workers (fulltime) above the poverty line?

Also, please consider that an entry level job is called entry level because it is an entry to a career, as you were using the term just a few posts ago.

The history of the minimum wage led me to my conclusion. Please don't ask me to google that for you.

I don't agree that min wage is a function of the poverty line. It is what the gov't stipulates as the bottom rung and entry level means entry into the workforce. Working the counter at McD's or bagging groceries is not a career. Woo.

Your assertion is becoming more rigid.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended
29 U.S.C. 201, et seq.
To provide for the establishment of fair labor standards in employments in and
affecting interstate commerce, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the “Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938”.
§ 201. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the “Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938”.
§ 202. Congressional finding and declaration of policy
(a) The Congress finds that the existence, in industries engaged in commerce or in
the production of goods for commerce, of labor conditions detrimental to the
maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and
general well-being of workers
(1) causes commerce and the channels and instrumentalities of commerce to
be used to spread and perpetuate such labor conditions among the workers of
the several States;
(2) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce;
(3) constitutes an unfair method of competition in commerce;
(4) leads to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the free
flow of goods in commerce; and
(5) interferes with the orderly and fair marketing of goods in commerce. That
Congress further finds that the employment of persons in domestic service in
households affects commerce.
(b) It is declared to be the policy of this chapter, through the exercise by Congress
of its power to regulate commerce among the several States and with foreign
nations, to correct and as rapidly as practicable to eliminate the conditions above
referred to in such industries without substantially curtailing employment or earning
power.

Beautiful cut & paste work. You'll note there's nothing in there about the poverty line nor what constitutes labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and general well-being of workers.
I'd say it was intentionally vague. It may well refer to working conditions which are dangerous or unhealthful.

 

[pinqy]

Child labor laws exclude children from the category of fulltime employees. I cannot determine what you mean by "living wage" but I'm certain it was not your intention to exclude fulltime employees from a wage above the poverty line by asking about high school children.

Since when has minimum wage only applied to fulltime workers? Is that the new socialist goal to get people off full time jobs by enacting new wage laws that only apply to full time workers?

You need to cool it with the strawmen, but at least you stopped cussing so I'll answer.

The year was 1997.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/coverage.htm
The 1996 amendments increased the minimum wage to $4.75 an hour on October 1, 1996, and to $5.15 an hour on September 1, 1997. The amendments also established a youth sub minimum wage of $4.25 an hour for newly hired employees under age 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days after being hired by their employer; revised the tip credit provisions to allow employers to pay qualifying tipped employees no less than $2.13 per hour if they received the remainder of the statutory minimum wage in tips; set the hourly compensation test for qualifying computer related professional employees at $27.63 an hour; and amended the Portal-to-Portal Act to allow employers and employees to agree on the use of employer provided vehicles for commuting to and from work, at the beginning and end of the work day, without counting the commuting time as compensable working time if certain conditions are met.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/q-a.htm
Must young workers be paid the minimum wage?
A minimum wage of $4.25 per hour applies to young workers under the age of 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer, as long as their work does not displace other workers. After 90 consecutive days of employment or the employee reaches 20 years of age, whichever comes first, the employee must receive a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009.
Other programs that allow for payment of less than the full federal minimum wage apply to workers with disabilities, full-time students, and student-learners employed pursuant to sub-minimum wage certificates. These programs are not limited to the employment of young workers.

For all other questions, please see the following link
https://www.google.com/


Goodnight

The question was about full time workers, not youth workers. The fact is that in 2013, over 60% of those receiving at or below the Federal minimum wage were part time workers.

I'm not sure what your point was with citing the youth minimum wage.

 

[RKMBrown]

My bad. I conflated two issues in my sentence why should we pay a 15year old grocery bagger a living wage. I should have said why should we pay a grocery bagger a living wage for bagging groceries, when the job has traditionally been a job done by 15year old kids. Or more specifically why should we effectively fire anyone older than 20 from being able to bag groceries by setting wage discrimination laws based on the ripe old age of 20, and demanding adults be paid more than the job is worth.

 

[SAYIT]

Since when has minimum wage only applied to fulltime workers? Is that the new socialist goal to get people off full time jobs by enacting new wage laws that only apply to full time workers?

You need to cool it with the strawmen, but at least you stopped cussing so I'll answer.

The year was 1997.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/coverage.htm
The 1996 amendments increased the minimum wage to $4.75 an hour on October 1, 1996, and to $5.15 an hour on September 1, 1997. The amendments also established a youth sub minimum wage of $4.25 an hour for newly hired employees under age 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days after being hired by their employer; revised the tip credit provisions to allow employers to pay qualifying tipped employees no less than $2.13 per hour if they received the remainder of the statutory minimum wage in tips; set the hourly compensation test for qualifying computer related professional employees at $27.63 an hour; and amended the Portal-to-Portal Act to allow employers and employees to agree on the use of employer provided vehicles for commuting to and from work, at the beginning and end of the work day, without counting the commuting time as compensable working time if certain conditions are met.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/q-a.htm
Must young workers be paid the minimum wage?
A minimum wage of $4.25 per hour applies to young workers under the age of 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer, as long as their work does not displace other workers. After 90 consecutive days of employment or the employee reaches 20 years of age, whichever comes first, the employee must receive a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009.
Other programs that allow for payment of less than the full federal minimum wage apply to workers with disabilities, full-time students, and student-learners employed pursuant to sub-minimum wage certificates. These programs are not limited to the employment of young workers.

For all other questions, please see the following link
https://www.google.com/


Goodnight

The question was about full time workers, not youth workers. The fact is that in 2013, over 60% of those receiving at or below the Federal minimum wage were part time workers.

I'm not sure what your point was with citing the youth minimum wage.

Many min wage part-timers are not kids and Zombie's point seems to be that the gov't should enforce a min wage based on his/her sense of fair.

 

[Zombie_Pundit]

I don't agree that min wage is a function of the poverty line. It is what the gov't stipulates as the bottom rung and entry level means entry into the workforce. Working the counter at McD's or bagging groceries is not a career. Woo.

Your assertion is becoming more rigid.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended...[large portion removed]

Beautiful cut & paste work. You'll note there's nothing in there about the poverty line nor what constitutes labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard of living necessary for health, efficiency, and general well-being of workers.
I'd say it was intentionally vague. It may well refer to working conditions which are dangerous or unhealthful.

That was just the first few lines of the The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
.
Workplace safety is not the same as minimum wage and handled by different legislation.

But ultimately you made your assertion first...

I don't believe the purpose of min wage is to keep workers above the poverty line.

Can you offer any proof to back that up?

Are you willing to do any research to support your own assertions, to stand on your own two feet and support your own burden of proof, and add to this discussion?

 

[Zombie_Pundit]

Since when has minimum wage only applied to fulltime workers? Is that the new socialist goal to get people off full time jobs by enacting new wage laws that only apply to full time workers?

You need to cool it with the strawmen, but at least you stopped cussing so I'll answer.

The year was 1997.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/coverage.htm


For all other questions, please see the following link
https://www.google.com/


Goodnight

The question was about full time workers, not youth workers.

That was not the question. The question was about youth workers. Here is the full quote.

Child labor laws exclude children from the category of fulltime employees. I cannot determine what you mean by "living wage" but I'm certain it was not your intention to exclude fulltime employees from a wage above the poverty line by asking about high school children.

Bullshit. Since when has minimum wage only applied to fulltime workers?

 

[Againsheila]

A living wage is clearly in the eye of the beholder and is a specious term used here to make some feel superior about his concern for humanity. It has no single meaning economically and virtually all of us have concern for humanity.

No doubt we do all have concern for humanity.

There are 2080 working hours in a year for a fulltime employee.
To be below the poverty line of $11,490 requires a wage lower than $5.52/hr.
Would you agree or disagree that it is in the nation's interest to keep fulltime employees above the poverty line?

Min wage jobs are intended as entry level and supplementary jobs. They are not intended to provide a living wage (whatever that is). Many min wagers also get tips. If one wants to earn more one must get a job that pays more. Among those paid by the hour, 1.6 million - of America's 150mil total workers - earn exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNErLKro_JJXvobGlxMM0vGmsCvA3Q

Oh please, you act as if they created these jobs for the worker. No they created the jobs for the employer, so they can get more done and make more money. Yet their workers are being subsidized by the taxpayer because they are paid so little. Just more corporate welfare. Raise the minimum wage to a living wage, taxpayers should not be subsidizing businesses.

 

[Againsheila]

An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13.
Let's not throw a number around like $7.25 and imply that person also gets tips.
Let's have a fair discussion.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm

Not so. Many tip jars benefit min wage earners.
If we are going to have a fair discussion let's try being honest and not toss around numbers like $5.52/hr.

I have given you the minimum wage for tip earners and the source. I cannot change the source.

Let's go over the math again for that $5.52/hr

Fulltime job=40 hrs/week
52 weeks in a year yields 2080 paid manhours per year.

The poverty line as of 2014 in these United States is actually $11,670/year (I reported a lower number from a earlier year in a previous post).
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm
http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CH...wnloads/2014-Federal-Poverty-level-charts.pdf

11670/2080 = $5.61 per hour.

A fulltime employee needs $5.61/hr to stay at the poverty line. That's just the numbers.

If we're going to talk about numbers, let's lay out the math.

When the minimum wage was created, it was started to support a family of 3 ABOVE the poverty line.

 

[Pop23]

No doubt we do all have concern for humanity.

There are 2080 working hours in a year for a fulltime employee.
To be below the poverty line of $11,490 requires a wage lower than $5.52/hr.
Would you agree or disagree that it is in the nation's interest to keep fulltime employees above the poverty line?

Min wage jobs are intended as entry level and supplementary jobs. They are not intended to provide a living wage (whatever that is). Many min wagers also get tips. If one wants to earn more one must get a job that pays more. Among those paid by the hour, 1.6 million - of America's 150mil total workers - earn exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNErLKro_JJXvobGlxMM0vGmsCvA3Q

Oh please, you act as if they created these jobs for the worker. No they created the jobs for the employer, so they can get more done and make more money. Yet their workers are being subsidized by the taxpayer because they are paid so little. Just more corporate welfare. Raise the minimum wage to a living wage, taxpayers should not be subsidizing businesses.

Then become the employer and create high paying jobs!

No need to complain about the problem if you create the solution.

 

[RKMBrown]

You need to cool it with the strawmen, but at least you stopped cussing so I'll answer.

The year was 1997.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/coverage.htm


For all other questions, please see the following link
https://www.google.com/


Goodnight

The question was about full time workers, not youth workers.

That was not the question. The question was about youth workers. Here is the full quote.

Child labor laws exclude children from the category of fulltime employees. I cannot determine what you mean by "living wage" but I'm certain it was not your intention to exclude fulltime employees from a wage above the poverty line by asking about high school children.

Bullshit. Since when has minimum wage only applied to fulltime workers?

I find it hilarious that zombie complained about my use of the term bullcarp, then even after I removed the term, he cut and pasted his old copy of it 3 times.

Then even after I fully explained my point as being why should we pay living wages for child jobs that don't deserve living wages he continues to rail on the child wage issue which has been ceded.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Not so. Many tip jars benefit min wage earners.
If we are going to have a fair discussion let's try being honest and not toss around numbers like $5.52/hr.

I have given you the minimum wage for tip earners and the source. I cannot change the source.

Let's go over the math again for that $5.52/hr

Fulltime job=40 hrs/week
52 weeks in a year yields 2080 paid manhours per year.

The poverty line as of 2014 in these United States is actually $11,670/year (I reported a lower number from a earlier year in a previous post).
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm
http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CH...wnloads/2014-Federal-Poverty-level-charts.pdf

11670/2080 = $5.61 per hour.

A fulltime employee needs $5.61/hr to stay at the poverty line. That's just the numbers.

If we're going to talk about numbers, let's lay out the math.

When the minimum wage was created, it was started to support a family of 3 ABOVE the poverty line.

If it's enough to pay the rent in a shithole and put rice and beans on the table it's enough to live on. You dont need a car,cell phone,TV or any other luxury item.

 

[Uncensored2008]

When the minimum wage was created, it was started to support a family of 3 ABOVE the poverty line.

You keep repeating that.

It's not even in the same zip code as true, but you keep repeating it.

Do you belong to a public employee union, by chance?

 

[Lonestar_logic]

No doubt we do all have concern for humanity.

There are 2080 working hours in a year for a fulltime employee.
To be below the poverty line of $11,490 requires a wage lower than $5.52/hr.
Would you agree or disagree that it is in the nation's interest to keep fulltime employees above the poverty line?

Min wage jobs are intended as entry level and supplementary jobs. They are not intended to provide a living wage (whatever that is). Many min wagers also get tips. If one wants to earn more one must get a job that pays more. Among those paid by the hour, 1.6 million - of America's 150mil total workers - earn exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNErLKro_JJXvobGlxMM0vGmsCvA3Q

Oh please, you act as if they created these jobs for the worker. No they created the jobs for the employer, so they can get more done and make more money. Yet their workers are being subsidized by the taxpayer because they are paid so little. Just more corporate welfare. Raise the minimum wage to a living wage, taxpayers should not be subsidizing businesses.

You are paying for businesses whether with tax subsidies or by patronizing them. Most tax subsidies are local and not federal, they do that to bring companies into their area and when that happens everybody wins.

 

[beagle9]

Did you intentionally ignore Alan's point? He said that he could, if need be, still make it on $15/hr but would likely add a 2nd job. The point being these are choices. We all have to make them and live with the benefits & consequences ... even those who choose to live on a min wage job. If one wants or needs more than those entry level jobs offer as pay, get a better job. No one should be forced to be responsible for the happiness or satisfaction or maintenance of anyone else other than immediate family nor should companies be forced by gov't to pay more than the value of their employees labor.

I bet the plantation owners of the old south had the same opinion that you have, to otherwise just be responsible only for their immediate family, and to hec with everybody else eh ? I mean that is what your post sounded like when I read it.. If you would go back and read my post, then you will see where I am coming in from on this stuff. Do you think it right that a man or woman like Alan should have to get another job to go along with the one he or she already works hard enough at now, and do it just to make ends meet these days ? I'd say something is very wrong when you see a lot of this going on now a days don't you, but funny how the business owners these days don't see it eh? Everyone see's it, but you have a powerful clique who are distracting and deflecting like mad now, and they are doing this because they figure their chickens are possibly about to come home to roost finally in it all. They eased us all into this situation, now lets see if they can do the right thing to get us out of it or will they bail with their golden Para shoots somehow along the way ? I am against a hike of above $8.50 or 9.00 dollars an hour minimum wage right now, and I am for the minimum wage meaning minimum, and it being always a temporary wage for say 6 months after hire, where as then it is to be re-evaluated again afterwards for a raise to follow. At this point the employee is to be placed into a structural pay grade system that the company should already have set up beyond the evaluation period or the training period until leaves there.

Your posts read like typical socialist whining.
For those who have $15 skills that is what they should earn and if they want more they can seek a better paying job, get a 2nd job, start their own biz from which they can then pay their employees whatever they deem suitable (at or above min wage) or whine about the unfairness of life on this message board.
The choices in our economic system (education, training, lifestyle, etc.) are yours and mine and we are relatively free to enjoy the fruit of those choices.

To lazy to go back and read eh ? I guess I can't help you then, so lets just move on.

 

[beagle9]

It takes quite a leap to disassociate "living wage" from "above the poverty line". You keep returning the "entry and exit" qualifier. Does "fulltime entry level" equal "below poverty line"?

While "living wage" (whatever that is) may be something above the poverty line, min wage isn't intended to provide either and full-time or part-time entry level is set by law at $7.25/hr or better. It is not a function of poverty level.

The minimum wage increases over time. Why do you think it increases over time? How do you think the increases are determined and justified?

Why does the increases if they are what you say they are, not bring workers above the poverty line ?

Minimum wage has never brought workers above the poverty line, but it did establish a line in the sand that tells companies that if you hire someone, then you should at least pay them this amount of money to start, and then hopefully move them up as time passes and they prove themselves as worthy of becoming a full time employee with benefits etc. Competition between companies and their workers kicks in and does the rest. If you have done what was expected of you, and you see that you are being held at minimum wage after a year, and you are stuck in a dead end job, then it should be that you would be able to get out and into a better company that appreciates you and your talents.

Monopolies and corporate unionism found in management trends, has all but destroyed competition, and the more open options for Americas to move about freely in the job markets, and to pursue the American dream as it should be in America. Look deeply people, and you will connect all the dots soon enough.

 

[RKMBrown]

While "living wage" (whatever that is) may be something above the poverty line, min wage isn't intended to provide either and full-time or part-time entry level is set by law at $7.25/hr or better. It is not a function of poverty level.

The minimum wage increases over time. Why do you think it increases over time? How do you think the increases are determined and justified?

Why does the increases if they are what you say they are, not bring workers above the poverty line ?

Minimum wage has never brought workers above the poverty line, but it did establish a line in the sand that tells companies that if you hire someone, then you should at least pay them this amount of money to start, and then hopefully move them up as time passes and they prove themselves as worthy of becoming a full time employee with benefits etc. Competition between companies and their workers kicks in and does the rest. If you have done what was expected of you, and you see that you are being held at minimum wage after a year, and you are stuck in a dead end job, then it should be that you would be able to get out and into a better company that appreciates you and your talents.

Monopolies and corporate unionism found in management trends, has all but destroyed competition, and the more open options for Americas to move about freely in the job markets, and to pursue the American dream as it should be in America. Look deeply people, and you will connect all the dots soon enough.

The poverty line is essentially a % line. No matter what you do 20% of the people will always be at or below 20%. America's poor would be considered filthy rich in many countries.