Comments on: Minimum Wage – A Blessing or a Curse? http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/ Idaho Falls Discussion Sat, 17 May 2008 03:55:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jodie http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22398 Jodie Sun, 11 May 2008 20:36:55 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22398 Crystal, I was refering to the low wages a Local Idaho Falls Business man pays his employees at PRIVATE Ambulance Services in Montana. Actually Career Firefighters and FF/PARA's (Here they're refered to as Firefighter/Paramedics) make fairly good money but not enough for running into burning building when everyone else is running out. Apparently your boyfriend hasn't researched salary/benifits, col (cost of living), and so on comparing California to Idaho. Health Care jobs in Idaho aren't real bad, they could be better. I started as an RN in Utah before coming here (12 yrs ago) and I don't have any regrets. My husband has been in the Fire Service for 15 years and has loved every day of it here. Between us we make $150k/yr. Crystal,

I was refering to the low wages a Local Idaho Falls Business man pays his employees at PRIVATE Ambulance Services in Montana. Actually Career Firefighters and FF/PARA’s (Here they’re refered to as Firefighter/Paramedics) make fairly good money but not enough for running into burning building when everyone else is running out. Apparently your boyfriend hasn’t researched salary/benifits, col (cost of living), and so on comparing California to Idaho. Health Care jobs in Idaho aren’t real bad, they could be better. I started as an RN in Utah before coming here (12 yrs ago) and I don’t have any regrets. My husband has been in the Fire Service for 15 years and has loved every day of it here. Between us we make $150k/yr.

]]> By: Anti Wally http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22369 Anti Wally Sat, 10 May 2008 20:28:23 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22369 Since it was brought up earlier on this thread, here is one of many reasons why I prefer doing business at other stores besides Walmart. This is just one example of the way they do business and how they bullied the Vlasic pickle company. http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html There are many more cases where they strongarm their suppliers to the point of driving them out of business. I shop at Fred Meyer partly just to counteract the huge number of people who shop at Walmart. Walmart will do just fine without me but I refuse to support them. Walmart does more business than the following stores combined: Target, K-Mart, Sears, JC Penney, Safeway and Kroger (Smith's & Fred Meyer's parent company). In many cases they have squeezed their suppliers so hard that they have no choice but to outsource work overseas to stay in business. And that is one of many reasons that I think that Walmart is worse than a lot of other stores. But that's just my opinion. Since it was brought up earlier on this thread, here is one of many reasons why I prefer doing business at other stores besides Walmart. This is just one example of the way they do business and how they bullied the Vlasic pickle company.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

There are many more cases where they strongarm their suppliers to the point of driving them out of business. I shop at Fred Meyer partly just to counteract the huge number of people who shop at Walmart. Walmart will do just fine without me but I refuse to support them.

Walmart does more business than the following stores combined: Target, K-Mart, Sears, JC Penney, Safeway and Kroger (Smith’s & Fred Meyer’s parent company). In many cases they have squeezed their suppliers so hard that they have no choice but to outsource work overseas to stay in business. And that is one of many reasons that I think that Walmart is worse than a lot of other stores. But that’s just my opinion.

]]> By: Crystal http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22365 Crystal Sat, 10 May 2008 19:30:42 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22365 You are right. I will feel hungry. But I will be fine! You are right. I will feel hungry. But I will be fine!

]]> By: Nemesis http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22364 Nemesis Sat, 10 May 2008 18:10:35 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22364 Oh, Crystal. Sadly disappointed does not begin to describe how you'd feel, if you come here after having those perks where you are currently. Oh, Crystal. Sadly disappointed does not begin to describe how you’d feel, if you come here after having those perks where you are currently.

]]> By: Crystal http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22363 Crystal Sat, 10 May 2008 18:00:41 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22363 I get around 9/hr for my restaurant job, not including between 60-200 per shift in tips and $20 worth of take home meal, and free wine while I work, although I don't take advantage of the latter (retail value though for those who do is abt. $20). So I suppose I will be sadly disappointed if I pursue a position as a Server in IF upon my arrival! I get around 9/hr for my restaurant job, not including between 60-200 per shift in tips and $20 worth of take home meal, and free wine while I work, although I don’t take advantage of the latter (retail value though for those who do is abt. $20).

So I suppose I will be sadly disappointed if I pursue a position as a Server in IF upon my arrival!

]]> By: Nemesis http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22362 Nemesis Sat, 10 May 2008 17:13:54 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22362 Crystal, the waitstaff who get tips are paid at a minimum of $3.35 per hour in Idaho. The expectation is that the tips will be enough to make up to minimum wage. Yes, I believe the law enforcement and the firefighters in this area are underpaid. I don't do either of those jobs and I think my wages are comparable, but as I don't put my life on the line, I think they deserve to be paid more than I get for doing my office job. Crystal, the waitstaff who get tips are paid at a minimum of $3.35 per hour in Idaho. The expectation is that the tips will be enough to make up to minimum wage.

Yes, I believe the law enforcement and the firefighters in this area are underpaid. I don’t do either of those jobs and I think my wages are comparable, but as I don’t put my life on the line, I think they deserve to be paid more than I get for doing my office job.

]]> By: Crystal http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22361 Crystal Sat, 10 May 2008 17:06:13 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22361 I have a question and a comment. Is Idaho's minimum wage waived for restaurant workers? I noticed a waiter/waitress job listed on the Labor Dept. site, at 3.35 or 3 something per hour. Anyone know what is up with that??? As for the rates paid to IF paramedics/firefighters, my bf, who is a para/ff in California, just laughed at the idea of moving to IF because of the HUGE paycut he would take. From what I have looked at, even cops in IF are grossly underpaid. That can't be good in the long run. I have a question and a comment.

Is Idaho’s minimum wage waived for restaurant workers? I noticed a waiter/waitress job listed on the Labor Dept. site, at 3.35 or 3 something per hour. Anyone know what is up with that???

As for the rates paid to IF paramedics/firefighters, my bf, who is a para/ff in California, just laughed at the idea of moving to IF because of the HUGE paycut he would take. From what I have looked at, even cops in IF are grossly underpaid. That can’t be good in the long run.

]]> By: Jodie http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22358 Jodie Sat, 10 May 2008 16:19:39 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22358 Two private Ambulance Services in Montana, one in Great Falls the other in Missoula. The employees in these companies are Paramedics and EMT's. Paramedics make $10/hr. and EMT's make just above minimum wage (say $6/hr.). I know you're saying "Whats Montana got to do with this?", well those companies are owned by a very prominant Idaho Falls businessman. In Idaho Falls a Nurses Aid can make $10/hr.+. This Idaho Falls businessman probably knows every tax loop hole then some and he's been listed in Forbes500. I think we're very fortunate to have the EMS System we have here, highly trained and qualified paramedics taking care of us. Two private Ambulance Services in Montana, one in Great Falls the other in Missoula. The employees in these companies are Paramedics and EMT’s. Paramedics make $10/hr. and EMT’s make just above minimum wage (say $6/hr.). I know you’re saying “Whats Montana got to do with this?”, well those companies are owned by a very prominant Idaho Falls businessman. In Idaho Falls a Nurses Aid can make $10/hr.+. This Idaho Falls businessman probably knows every tax loop hole then some and he’s been listed in Forbes500. I think we’re very fortunate to have the EMS System we have here, highly trained and qualified paramedics taking care of us.

]]> By: Nemesis http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22353 Nemesis Sat, 10 May 2008 12:08:12 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22353 I think there's something vaguely unsavory about all the large box retail places, and we could each find something about all of them that we don't care for. Yet we all shop there (apparently) as the mom & pop stores can't compete and are having to close down. Savings Center was just the last victim of this trend. The minimum wages paid locally, and the products bought cheaply from overseas, is how they do cost effective business these days. Fewer benefits for workers is becoming the norm. I think WalMart was recently exposed for this situation... "If you think our medical insurance isn't affordable and doesn't have enough coverage for you, here's an application for Medicaid, your kids will qualify"... I think there’s something vaguely unsavory about all the large box retail places, and we could each find something about all of them that we don’t care for. Yet we all shop there (apparently) as the mom & pop stores can’t compete and are having to close down. Savings Center was just the last victim of this trend.

The minimum wages paid locally, and the products bought cheaply from overseas, is how they do cost effective business these days.

Fewer benefits for workers is becoming the norm. I think WalMart was recently exposed for this situation… “If you think our medical insurance isn’t affordable and doesn’t have enough coverage for you, here’s an application for Medicaid, your kids will qualify”…

]]> By: CR67 http://idahofallz.com/2008/05/09/minimum-wage-%e2%80%93-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#comment-22350 CR67 Sat, 10 May 2008 08:05:33 +0000 http://idahofallz.com/?p=982#comment-22350 Excellent post findhumor Excellent post findhumor

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