The Minium Wage-$15 An Hour

This last week, we witnessed some workers in the fast-food business protesting against the wages that they are being paid and demanding that the minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour.  As with other issues, this situation generated conflicts surrounding this demand.  Some, for a variety of reasons, are totally in favor of this proposal.  Others, also for a variety of reasons, are totally against it.  Others, yet, are willing to compromise, and negotiate and even settle for something in between.

In our capitalistic American society (Slavetown, U.S.A), the following theoretical criteria is used to pay wages and benefits.  You will notice that I am emphasizing that this is the criteria in theory.

1.  Education

2.  Experience

3.  Benefit to the Employer, especially in the private employment sector.

In reality, the criteria which is used for wages and upward mobility is the following:

1.  Profitability

2.  Cronyism and Favoritism- ("It's not what you know, but who you know.")

3.  Consequences ("What if?)

4.  Education (with qualification, subordinate to 1 and 2)

5.  Experience (also with qualification, subordinate to 1, 2, 3, and 4)

This writer (yours truly) would like to propose another paradigm for paying wages.  This paradigm entails ethical and moral considerations.  In other words, it is not based on how much profit the employer can make, or how much the employer stands to lose if the minimum wage is raised to $15 an hour.  It is based on the question of what does justice require?

1.  Living wage-  Are the wages paid enough to enable employees to obtain decent and affordable  housing? Are they enough to enable the employees to adequately support their families? Are they enough to enable the employees to obtain adequate nutrition for themselves and their families? Are they enough to pay college/university or vocational study expenses for themselves and their families, especially at private institutions?  Do the wage structures include adequate health and retirement benefits?  Do the employer's policies leave room for equal opportunity of upward mobility for every single employee?

2.  Community/Social benefits- Is the work performed by employees conducive to the well-being of the community and society?

3.  Employer Benefit- Is the work performed by the employees beneficial to the employer? (With qualification, subject to 1 and 2)

4.  Education (With qualification, subject to 1, 2, and 3)

5.  Experience (With qualification, subject to 1, 2, 3, and 4)

On the basis of my proposed model, I speak in favor of raising the wage to $15 an hour.  The model is not based on how much the employer stands to gain or lose, and neither does it leave room for cronyism and favoritism.  Some may say that I am being too "idealistic."  This may or may not be the case, but I strongly believe that ethical and moral issues override the consequential issues of "what if?"   I invite you the reader to comment and give your views concerning this vital matter.

Grace and peace,
Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Carmona