Higher wages won't substantially raise prices

Many low-wage employers have been waging a war of fear against raising the minimum wage upwards of $15 an hour. They put out a message, for example, that a fast-food hamburger will now cost $10 and will make products unaffordable.

But a new New York Times piece shows that just isn't the case. Where some jurisdictions have raised their local minimum wage to levels approaching $15 themselves, several restaurant chains are reporting it hasn't caused them to dramatically increase prices. Representatives from Shake Shake, Domino's Pizza, Chipotle and Chili's said prices haven't gone up more than two percent.

As the Times' article states, inflation is not likely to run rampant if salaries are increased:

The last seven years have featured flat wages in inflation-adjusted terms, combined with rising corporate profit margins, two phenomena that aren’t completely unrelated. The behavior we’re seeing out of major restaurant chains may just be a sign that this is reversing, and that worker compensation will gain at the expense of corporate profits. If that’s the case, worker pay has some room to run before consumer price inflation is a real problem.

Workers' salaries should not be held hostage by obscene corporate profit margins. Hardworking Americans have been getting the short end of the stick for far too long. They only want to be able to earn a fair wage so they can support their families. But right now, that's a real struggle for many of them.

Despite what critics of a higher minimum wage might believe, the U.S. businesses will not be devastated by an increase in the salary floor -- even to $15 an hour. Instead, raising wages will improve the economy because it will give people more money in their pockets to spend. And that's good for everyone.

Time is a valuable asset for workers

America's workforce finds itself at two different polar ends. There are those struggling in largely low-income jobs who many times can't get enough hours to cover their bills. And then there are those at the professional level who are seemingly expected to work around the clock. In both instances, families are suffering.

There's been a lot of words written on the working poor, and rightfully so. Millions struggle each day to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. They lack dignity at work and are forced to fight and scrape for everything they get. Their plight is a sign of why joining a union like the Teamsters is so important.

Less talked about, however, is the 24/7 work culture that is becoming increasingly prevalent for many. A study soon to be published by Harvard University's Gender Initiative shows that men and women are struggling to keep their lives in balance given the expectations in the workplace.

As The New York Times noted in an article on the report:

The time Americans spend at work has sharply increased over the last four decades. We work an average of 1,836 hours a year, up 9 percent from 1,687 in 1979, according to Current Population Survey data analyzed by Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute. Some reasons include a more competitive and global economy as well as technology that enables people to work at any hour and location.

This sets up unrealistic expectations that leaves workers in such jobs drained and unable to spend any real quality time with their families. And that's not good for anybody.

Meanwhile, there are a few signs that things could be looking up for those working on the other end of the pay scale. Casual Mexican food chain Chipotle announced that it will offer paid sick leave and vacation time to it's hourly employees, improving their quality of life. It's a small step, but one that could set a precedent for other fast-food outlets.

Workers shouldn't have to be slaves to their employers. Whether it means being forced to log long hours or not having access to paid time off, neither is good option. The public and private sector need to take steps to guarantee workers' time and effort is respected in the workplace.