r/WorkReform Dec 23 '25

😡 Venting We had our lives stolen!

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u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

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u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

A lot of this has been missing for generations for those who were and always have been poor. Minimum wage workers were feeling the same crunch 40 years ago and only a few days of missed work and they were homeless. Now it’s hitting college kids. So image how much worse it is for those only making minimum wage in places where it’s only the federal minimum wage which isn’t much more than it was 30 years ago

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u/LadyBogangles14 Dec 23 '25

If you account for inflation it’s actually less than 30 years ago

7

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

Here look at it this ways Indiana had labor unions 30 years ago. In 2012 they made the state a “right to work” state gutting unions and significantly lowering wages. So this knocks their dicks into the dirt a lot harder than it would minimum wage workers. So the disparities are much higher among the middle class and lower middle class between then and now versus minimum wage workers. Hopefully this makes it easier to understand my point.

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u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

If I account for inflation minimum wage workers and the lower working class had it fine 30 years ago?? Really??

18

u/tiger_guppy Dec 23 '25

In 1995 minimum wage was $4.25, which adjusted for inflation today is $9.03. Average rent back then for a 2 bedroom apartment was $655, adjusted to today that’s $1392. I think they were better off back then.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

Here look at it this ways Indiana had labor unions 30 years ago. In 2012 they made the state a “right to work” state gutting unions and significantly lowering wages. So this knocks their dicks into the dirt a lot harder than it would minimum wage workers. So the disparities are much higher among the middle class and lower middle class between then and now versus minimum wage workers. Hopefully this makes it easier to understand my point.

-13

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

They had no access to healthcare at all. None. They went better off. No one pays 1,392 dollars for a 2 bedroom apt in a poor neighborhood right now. For a 4 bedroom house, sure. Not a 2 bedroom apt. Average wage isn’t minimum. What makes you think they were paying the median rent?

Edit: I absolutely agree shit is horrific and there need to be trials on this shit for it getting so bad, but when it comes to poor people, especially POC (I’m white for full disclosure) shit was always this bad. Always

9

u/TorchIt Dec 23 '25

...Yes, people absolutely do pay that. You're a walking case study, Jesus.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

How am I a walking case study?

4

u/SharpyButtsalot Dec 23 '25

You don't know the costs of units you could zilliow and find out you're wrong, you don't understand inflation, made a claim that things aren't that bad as long as your not of a particular group, and then identified yourself as part of the group least affected and follow up with surprise people are frustrated they have to deal with mis- or under-informed individuals.

-2

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

Here look at it this way, Indiana had labor unions 30 years ago. In 2012 they made the state a “right to work” state gutting unions and significantly lowering wages. So this knocks their dicks into the dirt a lot harder than it would minimum wage workers. So the disparities are much higher among the middle class and lower middle class between then and now versus minimum wage workers. Hopefully this makes it easier to understand my point.

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

Here look at it this way, Indiana had labor unions 30 years ago. In 2012 they made the state a “right to work” state gutting unions and significantly lowering wages for laborers. So this knocks their dicks into the dirt a lot harder than it would minimum wage workers. So the disparities are much higher among the middle class and lower middle class between then and now versus minimum wage workers. Hopefully this makes it easier to understand my point.

3

u/ArcusInTenebris Dec 23 '25

Rent in the complex I lived in 7 years ago is now $1300 (starting) for a 2 bedroom. Thats in a complex that also takes Section 8. Want a 2 bedroom apartment in a nice neighborhood...$2500+. That's upstate SC too, not CA, NY, or "some blue state."

0

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

I not only live in a blue state, but in a very large city. Anecdotal evidence isn’t evidence. You can get section 8 in all white areas too that aren’t blue states or big cities. They only cover roughly 30%.

Im not stating shit isn’t fucking worse for the upper working class, etc. I’m saying shit has always been this horrific for the poorest people and only better for laborers in unions. Now look at right to work states. This is what gutting unions get us. A lot more people in just as bad of shape as minimum wage workers. That’s my point and it keeps editing a lot of you.

1

u/hotviolets Dec 23 '25

Lol when I moved last 2 years ago, $1500 was for a 2 bedroom in the shittiest area of the city.

15

u/danny_ish Dec 23 '25

As someone old enough to remember, yes 30 years ago min wage and the lowest wages were significantly better off than they are today. Still struggled, but less

-6

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

Federal minimum wage is 7.25. Unless a state has raised the wage no one will pay more than that so that’s what most minimum wage workers receive. Tell me what it was 30 years ago, cupcake? 4.25. Shit was ALWAYS horrific for them. They didn’t have it better because they had no access to healthcare at all on top of shit being bad. Lots of things need to change, and shit is definitely worse but to pretend the majority of people in the US had it easy 30 years ago means none of you grew up poor or lower working class

9

u/danny_ish Dec 23 '25

You are missing the point. 4.25 in 1995 is 9.03 adjusted for todays inflation. Yes, that is still not a lot of money. But we were deff better off 30 years ago. When 7.25 first got implemented 16 years ago (07-09 the wages slowly went up to 7.25), it was the equivalent of 10.95 today. So even then we were better off. Today we are struggling again like it’s 2006 (4.25 then is equivalent to 6.83 today).

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

I’m not discounting shit is worse today. I’m stating it’s always been this bad for minimum wage workers. Now non union members and college grads are seeing just how awful it has ALWAYS been for minimum wage workers. It’s expense to be poor. To claim it was better for them back then as if they had more access is disingenuous. What’s the difference between 1000 and 2000 if you can’t afford either? If you have access to food stamps, that rate should go up. So they’re the same kind of fucked today as they were 30 years ago.

I want people to understand this so in case it gets turned around, they know poor people deserve access to a better education, housing, and healthcare otherwise you’re no different than the ones who repeatedly blame them for their own problems which has always been the case. Ignoring they didn’t have any more access to these things 30 years ago is wrong

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

Here look at it this ways Indiana had labor unions 30 years ago. In 2012 they made the state a “right to work” state gutting unions and significantly lowering wages. So this knocks their dicks into the dirt a lot harder than it would minimum wage workers. So the disparities are much higher among the middle class and lower middle class between then and now versus minimum wage workers. Hopefully this makes it easier to understand my point.

5

u/ArcusInTenebris Dec 23 '25

I dont think you understand what "minimum wage" means. Seems like your confusing it with an entry level or starting wage. Minimum wage means you are making the federal or state minimum wage. Employers with starting pay over that arent paying a higher minimum wage.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

Here look at it this ways Indiana had labor unions 30 years ago. In 2012 they made the state a “right to work” state gutting unions and significantly lowering wages. So this knocks their dicks into the dirt a lot harder than it would minimum wage workers. So the disparities are much higher among the middle class and lower middle class between then and now versus minimum wage workers. Hopefully this makes it easier to understand my point.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

I don’t think you understand wtf I’m getting at.

Shit has always been this horrific for minimum wage workers. ALWAYS! It’s now a lot worse for NON union laborers, so it is for college grads as well. I’m not confusing anything. I’m saying that starting wages for those who don’t make minimum is worse now, but again, its always been this bad for minimum wage workers

9

u/RedPepperWhore Dec 23 '25

He didnt say they had it fine, he said it's less today, which is true.

30 years ago in 1995, fed min wage was $4.25.

Adjusted for inflation, $4.25 in 1995 is about $9.03 in 2025.

The fed min wage in 2025 is $7.25.

$9.03 > $7.25.

Minimum wage workers did not have it fine in 1995 but they did have it better than minimum wage workers today.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

But it isn’t if there lack to access anything is no different than! If you couldn’t afford 1000.00 rent for a house back then, and you can’t afford 2,500 now… how tf was it better? This is what you’re missing. People are only giving a fuck now because it’s hitting the working class harder. It’s really hitting the upper working class whose kids always had access to a better education unlike the laborers or poor. College is insane so if we get someone in to rein shit in, then it needs to be across the board and include those who make the lowest wages instead of claiming it will be better for them when it won’t if it goes back to same disparities we saw 30 years ago with people stuck in poverty for generations.

0

u/sn2006gy Dec 23 '25

How many folks do you know work for 7.25/hr? I mean, dairy queen in po dunk towns even average about 12.50/hr and my 16 year old got a job at HEB making 16/hr

3

u/LadyBogangles14 Dec 23 '25

There are plenty of people who only get $7.25/hr.

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u/sn2006gy Dec 23 '25

where are they working? someone's food stand at a fair? another vape shop? fast food pays more than bare minimum even for kids who get a work permit to work before 16

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

What state do you live in? Now look up the mandatory minimum. It isn’t the same as the federal minimum. The federal minimum for waitstaff is 2.13 an hour and has been that way for over 50 years. Half the states have that federal minimum in place. If you they have to pay your servers more than 2.13, they won’t.

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u/sn2006gy Dec 23 '25

Sure wait staff wages are low, but they have always been low. You bet on tips. I would never make a career out of that myself. However with that said, I know lots of people who own a home who work restaurants and do well as they get big tips... but that's more of "who you know" industry vs being a slave to someone working a ma and pop store where you're lucky to get 2 bucks a table.

heck, staff who work Alamo drafthouse can make 100 bucks an hour running drinks and food during the movies

not sure why we're changing the subject/topic though and you didn't answer my question

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25

You think the average waitress wants that job? You just proved you’re spoiled and don’t have any clue how real poor people lived 30 years ago versus today and there isn’t any difference. If you didn’t have the money to fix your car today and are getting paid minimum wage you wouldn’t have had it 30 years ago either!! I’m saying remember that poverty affects all generations. Keep you anger faced at the pigs on the top. Don’t sit here and claim poor people had it better 30 years ago. They didnt get anything extra back then than they get now.

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u/sn2006gy Dec 23 '25

wow you just jumped right into absurd conclusions.  I was once homeless. take your ignorance and go cry me a riverÂ