12/14/98 MINIMUM WAGES FOR MINIMUM SKILLS

MINIMUM WAGES FOR MINIMUM SKILLS

Two important items were left out of ''Peg the minimum wage--for good'' (News: Analysis & Commentary, Nov. 23). First, it appears that rhetoric promulgated by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and other strong supporters of the minimum wage have set the parameters of the debate. It is critical that the public understands exactly who receives the minimum wage. It has been documented that over 80% of those who do are individuals living at home with parents or relatives, workers in dual-income households, or single wage earners with no kids.
Second, it is difficult to believe that the public, and especially businesses, would support indexing a federal mandate without any review or discussion. It is poor public policy to allow bureaucrats exclusive control of a mandate that directly affects the way companies are allowed to operate. Proponents of indexing the minimum wage must keep in mind that businesses pay wages comparable with skills. Increasing the minimum wage is not synonymous with increasing the skill level of workers.
Bryan J. Bucklew
Vice-President
Governmental Affairs
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Dayton