Democrats and left-leaning supporters for increasing the minimum wage converged on Republican Congressman Dennis Ross’ town tall meeting in Tampa, Florida, armed with questions aimed to try to stump Ross on the issue.
Our amigos over at Thing Progress were in attendance and caught an exchange between Ross and a constituent, Shaneeka Rainer, who asked the congressman if he supported increasing the minimum wage.Rainer has apparently worked in the fast food restaurant business for 10 years, and according to Thing Progress, he only receives minimum wage at his Arby’s job, even after working all those years in fast food.
The report does not state how long Rainer had worked at his current job, how many other jobs in the fast food business he has held over that 10 year span, or what was his hourly wage was when he left his previous job(s).
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Common sense would tell you that, if you apply for a fast food job, or any other job, workers will usually start off at a bare-bones wage, or minimum wage.
Ross argued that if the minimum wage was raised, “the costs of products, the costs of services” were going to go up. He is right, it’s basic economics.
Ross added:I am not suggesting that we do away with the minimum wage. The miniumum wage is not a career wage, it a wage that is paid to make sure workers are not taken advantage of by business owners, but if we are going to make it a living wage, who is going to pay for it?
Thing Progress adds their take on the exchange:
In other words, Rainer has worked an entire decade receiving only one raise: when Congress increased the minimum wage in 2007.
Again, we don’t know how many raises Rainer has received, because we do not know his entire 10 year fast food work resume. We don’t know if Rainer has received past promotions which would have increased his wage.
Here is the exchange:
RAINER: Would you support the Obama act of raising the federal minimum wage?
ROSS: No. […] I think it would do more harm to our economy than anything. You work at Arby’s, the cost of products, the cost of services are going to go up. […] If we are going to make it a living wage, who’s going to pay for it? Who’s going to pay for it?
AUDIENCEMEMBER: I will. I’ll pay 20 cents extra for a hamburger. [Applause]
RAINER: He said he’ll pay. So if he’ll pay, I’m going to work every day busting my butt. I want to know, would you take a walk in my shoes? Lay your tie and your suit down, just for a day, 24 hours, and take a walk in my shoes. The people that I work with, we’re keeping the economy floating and going in the cycle. But the people that hire, they’re just paying money, just throwing money. But I’m actually working every day. So why wouldn’t you support it?ROSS: Because it’s not right. Economically, it’s not right. It does more harm to our economy. […] If the government’s going to tell me how much I can get paid and when I can work and when I can’t work, then we have a serious problem in this country.
More Think Progress:
He doesn’t believe Ross and other lawmakers “think he deserves a raise?” First of all, Rainier has chosen to work in the fast food business for 10 years. Surely, his past and present employer(s) have already made that decision, as to whether or not Rainer is deserving of a raise, or not.Over the past few decades, the lower and middle classes haven’t just seen dwindling incomes, but also declining opportunities for advancement. Stories like Rainer’s of workers being stuck in minimum wage jobs for years are increasingly common.
Towards the end of our conversation, Rainer’s exasperation became apparent. “I bust my butt for these people everyday,” he said in disbelief that lawmakers like Ross don’t think he deserves a raise. “Come down to Arby’s for 24 hours. Take the broom, wipe down the bathroom. See what it’s like.”
Oh, and let me add that there are promotion opportunities within the fast food business.
Because I question Mr.Rainer’s motive for asking the question, and Think Progress’ suggestion that he has only received one raise in his 10 year fast food career, I decided to go to my local Arby’s restaurant to get to the bottom of that company’s pay scale.
Shortly after ordering my Grand Turkey combo meal (their curly fries are the best), I spoke to the Shift Manager working the counter about Mr. Rainer’s story. The manager quickly debunked his story, telling me that even if an employee is hired at minimum wage, within a years time, he or she would have received some sort of raise or raises.
The manager also added that someone who has been in the industry for as long as Mr. Rainer, would have surely been offered some sort of managerial promotion that would have paid a lot more than minimum wage.
Again, regardless of Mr. Rainer’s situation, he first chose to find employment in fast food, and now has chosen to continue working within that same industry.