First of all, lot of semi-skilled and even skill jobs pay $15-20/hr right now, yet they wouldn't see a similar raise in their wages. Heck, in my hometown, TEACHERS only make $35k/year - that would be just $5k/year more than someone flipping burgers at McDonalds. Does that seem right to you?
Second, what's to stop landlords and stores from suddenly jacking up their prices? Hey! Their tenants/customers can afford it! They all just got a big fat raise, right? And then suddenly...we're back where we started from. People working 40 hours a week, and yet, can't make ends meet.
So how do you propose we fix those problems? Have the government dictate everyone's wages and the prices for everything? Yeah, that's been tried before. Let's ask Russia how that 50 year experiment worked out for them?
Economically, I think, un-skilled workers are generally paid near the minimm wage. There isn't much competition for specific workers, since they are usually easily replacable. There is, however, in some industries anyway, some competition for skilled workers in other industries who have a skill set. Firms pay more for these skills in order to retain talent. As such, the minimum wage raising probably won't have a huge effect on skilled workers incomes just out of "fairness".
That being said, assuming these workers do get a significant boost in pay this may increase the amount of spending occuring in the economy which could, then, improve economic conditions. When the economy improves, wages generally improve along with it. Companies can afford to pay their workers more.
It's not an OK way to spell "to".
Every time there is a wage hike in one category of workers, other workers in similar categories of work will try to get those higher wages, too. Usually, they just quit their job and go work for the higher paying companies. If the slave wages companies want good employees, they have to raise their wages, too.
But a wage raise for restaurant workers does not prompt a wage increased for skilled healthcare workers who are already paid more etc.
I wonder if many others have ever thought this after a wage jump? And since there's talk about a pending fast food worker strike in the USA, I think this is the right time to ask this. Okay, lets imagine the minimum wage gets raised somewhat significantly to per say around about $15.00 per hour. Shouldn't other workers in other industries also get raises as well, or at least be allowed to jockey for them? This is my driving sentiment behind this notion; since there are workers who do more important jobs than others, then those more skilled and vital workers should be assured their worth more also.
