The "increase minimum wage" issue.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

"I'm thinking that if my union is pushing for the minimum wage to increase to (for example only) $14/hr, then the union should be pushing just as hard for the RN wage to also increase by 50%. If the union does not push for an equal pay increase for the RN's it represents, then isn't it diminishing the value of the RN's education/skills/knowledge. What I'm saying is it seems that to close the gap between an RN's pay and minimum wage, we are effectively earning less or our jobs have been devalued. I'm wondering if this makes sense and if anyone agrees or disagrees and why."

Federal minimum wage is $7.25, and unchanged since 2009.

If minimum wage was increased significantly it would tend to push wages higher. An increase to $14 means everyone making above the minimum, but less than $14, would get raises. People in that group will say, "I was making X dollars more than minimum wage, so I want more". So will those making just above that.

however, the the average RN makes -4 to 4 1/2 times the minimum wage, many much more than that. I currently make X times minimum wage. If I made X-1, and my buying power was the same, I wouldn't feel devalued in the least. It would narrow the gap, and provide more people a living wage.

However, no business can support the 50% across the board increase that you propose, and Congress certainly won't vote for increased spending. And without congress increasing health care spending, your hospital has no way to pay millions extra in wages. I'd be surprised if Congress votes for any sort of a increase at all in the next 4 years.

bagladyrn, RN · Nov 30, 2014

I disagree as I don't think that my rate of pay is in any way relevant to the issue of someone who is working full time being able to make enough to afford the basic necessities of life (food, shelter, etc.) which they cannot do on the current minimum wage.

I negotiate/accept a wage that seems adequate to me for the work I perform and this is in no way affected by what someone else earns.

It's a basic human needs issue and as such I think that it is appropriate for unions and other entities to address this.

Sorry - no way to state my opinion without adressing my thoughts on whether or not the minimum wage should be increased.

shermrn · Nov 30, 2014

MrChicagoRN,

I understand what you are saying, and again my numbers and such are hypothetical. If the minimum wage increased would your buying power be the same or would the cost of goods and services also increase, to pay employees the higher wage?

bagladyrn,

I appreciate your comments. Do you in fact negotiate your own wage or do you accept what an employer offers based on your skill, experience etc. I'm not aware of any, nursing positions anyway, in which one can negotiate their own wage. I do agree that people need to be able to afford the basic necessities of life. I disagree however with having my union involved in activities that are not directly related to my job. That's not their place and not what I am paying them for.

The union exists to represent myself and the RN's I work with, it is not intended to represent me as far as national/international social and economic issues are concerned. I guess this is where I have trouble with the union, when it comes to me and my job they have a place. When it comes to my relationship with the world outside of the work environment, I can chose who and what to give my money and time to. Their only job is to represent me to my employer, anything more is over reach. Because I am forced to either join the union and pay dues, or at least pay a monthly service fee, it is especially concerning when they operate outside their scope of practice. I simply feel they should only do what I pay them for, nothing more.

shermrn · Nov 30, 2014

Before this goes too far off track I wish to clarify that the many social and economic issues such as a livable wage, the environment, etc, all do have an effect on my job, but indirectly and in a much different scale than does my union contract. So I consider those things outside the unions scope of practice.

studentnursemon86 · Nov 30, 2014

I make $15 an hour as an emergency tech. It took me 8 years to earn the pay raises I've gotten to get there.

It irks me that people want that for entry level retail and fast food.

If that is the case, perhaps everyone should push for more so they are paid what they are worth.

PMFB-RN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

I think it IS my union's job to advocate for higher pay for workers. I would expect them to concentrate on the issues that most pertain the the workers (nurses in the case) they represent, but also expect they to devote some minority of their time and money to advocating for less directly related issues that will have an effect on us.

I am very much in favor of raising the minimum wage. If the minimum wage goes up, so will mines in time. At least that is the way I have always observed it happening.

I think that, relitive to our level of responsibiliety, RNs are very under paid, well most of them. Look at the wage survays here on AL and see how many are making less than $20 and hour.

shermrn · Nov 30, 2014

bagladyrn,

Sorry, I do see that you wrote "negotiate/accept", my brain just got stuck on the word "negotiate" when I posted my response to your comments.

liberated847 · Nov 30, 2014

I'm in favor of raising the minimum wage. Although I'm fortunate to be an RN with a livable wage I also feel bad for those in a less fortunate position busting their behinds and still not able to provide for their families. This happens when corporations are allowed to run our country by buying our politicians. It's redistribution of wealth to the top. Then we have people here kicking the poor people down when they should be demanding reform and fair wages for everyone.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Nov 30, 2014

With goods increasing in costs and wages being stagnant-nurses wages have been stagnant for the past 20 years, with many places freezing wage increases and cost of living adjustments going away, in addition to rising housing costs, it's high time for an increase across the board, in addition to industries, including nursing, to have wage adjustments.

There are many nurses who are living paycheck to paycheck, like many who are making minimum wage and below (like waitresses, but that's a off topic on what, um, "practices" they have to endure i.e. tip mismanagement) and struggle to make ends meet; for what anyone does and contributes to society and based on how wide the income gap is, nurses, or anyone for that matter, should be able to have a livable income in order to buy food, pay utilities, adequate shelter, and save for retirement so they don't necessarily have to live off of Social Security, but unfortunately, that's not what's going on. :no:

shermrn · Nov 30, 2014

liberated847

I agree our politicians are bought and sold, however I think the blame for this falls squarely on the American people. We let this happen by failing to hold our elected officials accountable. The American people are also guilty of becoming slaves to consumerism. Corporations and politicians only have the power we give them. The corporations make their profits because we buy their stuff, they ship jobs to other countries because we demand lower prices. The politicians do whatever they want because we let them. Then we complain about all these things as if none of us are to blame, using corporate executives and politicians as scapegoats. In the end they are human and do what most any of us would do given unlimited wealth and power. In America it's not the system that has failed, it's the citizen who has failed. Too many people are completely oblivious to how this country runs. I like to think the founding fathers envisioned the voters being informed citizens with some skin in the game, rather than a mass of zombies voting for whoever had the biggest advertising budget.

liberated847 · Nov 30, 2014

liberated847
I agree our politicians are bought and sold, however I think the blame for this falls squarely on the American people. We let this happen by failing to hold our elected officials accountable. The American people are also guilty of becoming slaves to consumerism. Corporations and politicians only have the power we give them. The corporations make their profits because we buy their stuff, they ship jobs to other countries because we demand lower prices. The politicians do whatever they want because we let them. Then we complain about all these things as if none of us are to blame, using corporate executives and politicians as scapegoats. In the end they are human and do what most any of us would do given unlimited wealth and power. In America it's not the system that has failed, it's the citizen who has failed. Too many people are completely oblivious to how this country runs. I like to think the founding fathers envisioned the voters being informed citizens with some skin in the game, rather than a mass of zombies voting for whoever had the biggest advertising budget.

I partially agree, yes the American people hold some of the blame, but the reason we are that way it's in part due to our government's systematic destruction of our educational system and propaganda aimed at keeping us all dumb.