To The Readers’ Forum:

I am to understand a lot has been said about raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour for fast food workers.

I ask why? No one has forced you to work there for as long as you have. I can understand why some people must work these jobs – because they may have gotten laid off or fired – but students or people who’ve been there for years? There are machinists, computer techs and military personnel who make this kind of money, people with some background. Dock workers – those who load and unload at our ports – make better money even and they’re unionized. No, I am not making excuses for employers, because I know many lie and tell you they give pay rates every so often when they don’t. I’ve known people to have left these kinds of jobs, they weren’t happy with the pay or the hours.

I’ll say this to both: You both can do better. You can find some job that is better paying if you desire it, and employers that are fed up with training a new crew every two weeks can boost your morale by paying your help a decent wage, not be forced to pay it. It’s the only way I know to raise morale in companies, by treating everyone fairly – I don’t mind paying more if treated by confident and happy help.

Russell Fowler

Jamestown