And well deserved what with the cost of living going sky high and most wages remaing the same. Even at 10 bucks a single parent would find it hard to live.

I had a couple students I hired last year, and at $10/hr I'd only hire one this year. At $8/hr you can afford to hire more than one to try out.
Last year one finished the season at $11/hr and the other stayed at $8/hr.

Some people aren't worth $6/hr, no matter what the cost of living is at.

Hellooooo!!! You got that right YamaDoo, some people ARE NOT worth that much money an hour!!! The students and young people in the work force are an interesting bunch these days. Some of them, you really have to wonder what the heck they are doing standing at that till???? It's like you are bothering and offending them because you are purchasing something. Then every once in awhile you encounter a young person who actually takes their job seriously, they are a pleasure to deal with, they treat you like they are truly glad you are there. I am learning to speak up to and about these ones. They deserve to know they are exceptional and that their effort is appreciated.

On the other hand, even at $10.00 an hour, and they call it "above the poverty line"??. Wow, based on whose opinion I wonder? Every politician should live on that for just one month! I make twice that and as a single parent, still find it tough at times.

I understand exactly what you are saying Yamadoo. That is what I have maintained all along. Give the raises to the ones that are deserving and "can" the others. There is a 3 month timeline in which you can let an employee go if they aren't working out. Hire full-time people instead of part-time and casual because if you think about constant retraining it would probably benefit the employer to do this and pay the benefits. If this had been done as it was in the past these problems may not exist. I do agee also however that due to the cost of living 8 dollars isn't enough. Have a great day everyone!

Everyone must start out somewhere, $8.00 to $10.00, it does not really matter. Those that choose to advance themselves and make sacrifices will earn more in short order. Those that choose to snivel and whine, rather than prove their worth will stay at the low levels... Mr.Sinclair should also say that 'some' people are in favour of the minimum wage increase, he obviously ignored my comments to him.

This is a tough one.I agree totally that 8 bucks is not enough per hour.10 dollars is fair, but I also agree that many entering the work force are not worth 5!!Attitude plays a major part in it all, and the right attitude and work ethics will take you a long way.
Because the entry work force is young,attitude is an issue.How it got that way I am not sure, but it IS a problem.They themselves need to be aware of that when applying for a job.The potential employer will decide in the first 5 minutes or less whether of not you have a bad attitude.
If you want 10 bucks an hour then you will need to actually earn it!Customers are not always pleasant either but they ARE paying the ever increasing prices.You need to show them they are actually getting something for their money.

Easy math - minimum wage goes up = costs go up = cost to consumers goes up = nothing gained except more people laid off because minimum wage went up.

Leave minimum wage where it is at and if the employee is worth their salt or the employer wants to keep good employees they will pay them more.

It's that easy...

I think one of the problems with some of the young people these days is that they have no concept of "doing for someone else". They have become so accustomed to having everything done for them because their folks, who are overworked and underpaid or are so tied to their careers for the big bucks that they don't have time to teach their kids how to properly do things for themselves.

Another consideration is the employers who take advantage of their employees, good ones and bad ones. I have known employers who hire a young person and just expect them to know what to do, they won't even take 10 minutes to show them how to do it yet they insist they do the job "right" and when they don't they complain bitterly to the employee and "fire them" for their "stupidity". Now, granted, sometimes there is some real stupidity, or lack of common sense involved - but it angers me when adults assume the young ones "should just know" what to do.

Fair wages and fair treatment for fair work performed. A great big wishful think!! We'll work on it!

As a small business owner I believe that workers should be paid fairly for the work that they do; however the wage should reflect the type of work that they are being paid to do. For example why should someone who works as a checkout clerk at Mr. G's get paid the same as someone who is in an entry level position at a labor intensive job. Both jobs have the posibility of advancement, although most of these job types have a high turnover of employees. I do not pay my employees minimum wage, I pay them fairly based on there experience, there education and there determination to complete the tasks assigned to them efficently and accurately. If you do the work and do it well and you show me that you might stick around for a while, I will be more willing to pay a higher hourly wage. Most of my employees currently make more than I do and I own the business. There are some months when I can barely make ends meet. Make your money the same way that I do work hard for each and every dollar. I dont believe that people who are already making 40 or 50 thousand dollars a year should be telling us how much to pay our employees.

As a small business owner I believe that workers should be paid fairly for the work that they do; however the wage should reflect the type of work that they are being paid to do. For example why should someone who works as a checkout clerk at Mr. G's get paid the same as someone who is in an entry level position at a labor intensive job. Both jobs have the posibility of advancement, although most of these job types have a high turnover of employees. I do not pay my employees minimum wage, I pay them fairly based on there experience, there education and there determination to complete the tasks assigned to them efficently and accurately. If you do the work and do it well and you show me that you might stick around for a while, I will be more willing to pay a higher hourly wage. Most of my employees currently make more than I do and I own the business. There are some months when I can barely make ends meet. Make your money the same way that I do work hard for each and every dollar. I dont believe that people who are already making 40 or 50 thousand dollars a year should be telling us how much to pay our employees.

A lot of hot air comes out of the B.C. Federation of Labor offices. I doubt whether anyone there has ever had a real job in their lives. They all live off dues from other people. As mentioned in the above posts, if a person either young or old is worth it, they will get paid what they should in most cases. Perhaps you have some unscrupulous employers out there but for the most part if you want a good employee to stay you will pay them well. My daughter works at the food court in the mall and they started her out at the customary $6.00. By the second payday she was getting $8.00. She obviously was doing a good job and they recognized that.

Minimum wages hikes only reduce opportunity for new and unskilled workers. The majority of minimum wage earners are younger than 24. These kids aren't necessarily "poor", they just earn an income below a statistically calculated poverty line. The government is better of offering tax subsidies to lower income people, as the federal government announcement in the recent budget.

But, then the BC federation of Labour doesn't get to put a foot in the door for potential "union dues" suckers.

whynotyou, I agree with your fist paragraph, 100%. As others have mentioned though, it seems that a majority of the young workers I see have no clue, from day one on the job. Even considering they must have had SOME sort of training, there seems to be something missing. Thank the deity of your choice that there ARE exceptions, and please do go out of your way to pass on any positive comments to their bosses, if you can. We all need a little good news once in a while. I am speaking as a consumer, and as an employer. I for one, would never even consider putting one of these kids (17 to 40 yrs. old, in my experience) in charge of a cash register, or as part of my frontline staff. There are outstanding individuals that come along, that learn quickly, and show interest, those you try to hang on to. They are often preparing to move to greener pastures before you know it, because they have some ambition.
metalman.

"I don’t believe that people who are already making 40 or 50 thousand dollars a year should be telling us how much to pay our employees."

They are not. They are providing a minimum standard. The hourly rate is only part of what they require of employers.

1. maximum work per day
2. maximum work per week
3. minimum rest time between two work periods.
4. maximum work without a break
5. minimum break time
6. minimum vacation time

and so on.

Those types of labour laws did not exist 100 years ago. In fact, they probably did not exist 70 years ago.

Laws exist as a last resort, no matter what the issue is. First comes establishing a proper system, second is awareness raising and, if the system is still significantly inequitable (the measure in this instant) then putting regulations in place with some sort of enforcement is the last resort.

If minimum wages are instituted in the first place, it tells me that the system is not being “fair to all”, that there are some who take advantage of it.

As for people not being able to do the work expected of them. That is a “sore” point for me. I know of too many places where there is no training on the job. You show up at 9 o’clock on the first day and get a 10 minute guided tour through the business and away you go. If you want someone to be able to make change, (especially when you give someone $20 for a $17.57 cent bill and then give them 7 cents as you rummage through your pocket of change while they have already punched in $20 as tender and $2.43 cents pops up for the change they have to count out and they look at the 7 cents, they look at the display, then they look at you with this vacant stare of fear of the unknown) you have to teach them since neither the elementary, secondary or post secondary systems teach them that. They may be able to solve for Y given A and B, but they really cannot put this situation into that context.

That was algebra, the till is the real world, and never shall the two meet unless the employer teaches them. And that holds for every single part of training people for your business. Those who are in business and think they do not have to train people, they are mistaken big time. It has always been that way and will likely always be that way. Just as with parents, business people are getting lazy and leave everything up to the education system.

That is my "rant" for today ... :-)

While trianing is important many of the Minimum wage jobs really do not need any training or special skills, this is why they are minimum wage positions. Owl, you kill me with 'leaving everything up to the education system'. Please enlighten me with this wisdom

Thats awesome duffer, and that is a great incentive for anyone. If employers did that more often along with maybe a few compliments on a job well done some employees might not be so upset about not making as much money as they'd like. Yes there are allot of young people who have no conception of what work is about, but I have always found that a little positive behavior on the part of an employer can sure make a difference. Sometimes its nicer to have a job you like at a lesser wage than doing a job you hate for the big bucks..Unfortunately some can 't afford that pleasure.

Wow! The loogunry at a Cougars game supports more money for unskilled labor?????????
Shocking!

I believe minimum wage should be indexted to age. Anyone over the age of 18 should be getting at least $12 dollars an hour for their time.

the price of a house has gone up 150% and the price of gas 200% in the last five years. Why should wages not also go up?

I have to agree that some do not deserve what they get paid young or old. Most retailers have lost the customer service thing where they thank the customer for their business. Most places you shop at now a days YOU thank them for taking your money. Case in point is a gas station where you pay outrageous prices as it is only to have the attendant (even in their 30's to 40's) demand $75.00, no please or thankyou. This happens at most retail stores, restaurants and any other business young or old, you bought my stuff give me money. The kids today don't know who is paying their wages as little as they may be.

Chadermando, age has no relavance as to an employees skills or eagerness to succeed financially. What would you pay a 60 year old who is simply working to keep active.Based on your idea they should be getting $80-90/hour. Also with your idea when the housing market drops 30% do we decrease peoples pay by 30%? Highly unlikely...people will earn what they deserve and what the employer feels they are worth. Great employee's are valuable and if they want to be kept they must be paid accordingly. If the employee has little skill or no desire to be a benefit to the employer, who cares if they quit.