Minimum Wage

[Jim Westrich]

Texas has a minimum wage that is less than the federal standard. I thought 
it was $3.35 an hour (about a half dozen states have state minimums less 
than the federal minimums).  I know that higher state minimums (like 
Massachusetts' $6.75/hr.) supercede federal mins, but I don't know what 
happens when the state min is lower.  It sounds mostly like a scam to hurt 
the most vulnerable (those for whom knowing or redressing legal issues are 
the most difficult).

I received a "sub-minimum wage" in my first job (1979, $1.95/hr, WI) which 
was legal for agricultural work.  My job was not agricultural at all but 
because my employer could get away with it (laws are one thing, enforcement 
is another) I got paid less.  My father insistence I work hard and learn 
the value of a dollar woefully backfired as all I learned about was 
exploitation.  Interestingly, my first superviser's daughter (I worked 9 
summer's as a janitor but only the first year was paid a sub-minimum wage) 
is now the head of Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development (the 
labor department).

Jim

At 11:24 AM 1/16/01, kelley wrote:
>curious, how is the min wage figure derived, below?  i assume they're 
>including migrant labor wages and those paid to immigrants who are working 
>off the books?
>
>"Bush opposes affirmative action, and presides over a state that has a
>minimum wage of only $3.15 an hour. "
>
>from Manning Marable's
>>RACISM AND THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY

" . . . they never told him the cost of bringing home his weekly pay

         and when the courts decide how much they owe him

         how will he spend his money

         as he lies in bed and coughs his life away?"

from "He Fades Away" by Alistair Hulett