Reader: Raising the Minimum Wage Will Lead to Layoffs and Restaurant Closures

Two years after New York City fast-food workers sparked a nationwide movement for higher pay and rights on the job, Denver fast-food workers walked off the job last Thursday, joining strikers from fast-food and other industries in 190 cities nationwide, calling for $15 an hour and union rights. The focus...

By Patricia Calhoun

December 8, 2014

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Two years after New York City fast-food workers sparked a nationwide movement for higher pay and rights on the job, Denver fast-food workers walked off the job last Thursday, joining strikers from fast-food and other industries in 190 cities nationwide, calling for $15 an hour and union rights. The focus of Denver's protest was the McDonald's on the 16th Street Mall.

Says Denver:

Raising fast food industry workers' wages to $15 per hour would force steep hikes in the price of the food at fast food restaurants. If they raise the prices, many will be unable to afford the food, or many won't want to pay the higher prices. This will lead to layoffs and closures of the restaurants.

But then there's this from DonkeyHotay:

So RAISE the prices of the food, and stop making the employees suffer slave wages just to artificially depress the increased costs of operation.

What do you think of the fight to raise the minimum wage?

Follow @CafeWestword

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

Follow:

Facebook: patricia.calhoun.927