[central_va]

President Eisenhower on the minimum wage:

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Ike grew up poor and empathized with workers. He wanted to protect the rights of workers to join a union and bargain collectively. He said, “I have no use for those, regardless of political party, who hold some vain and foolish dream of spinning the clock back to the days when organized labor was huddled, almost a hapless mass. Only a fool would try to deprive working men and women of the right to join the union of their choice.” (Smith, Eisenhower in War and Peace)

He regarded workers as he regarded soldiers in that “they have a job to do for the nation.” (Kreig, Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier, President, Statesman)

He raised the minimum wage for two million workers to $8.15 in today’s dollars. He would extend the minimum wage for as many people possible while remaining practical. (Smith, Eisenhower in War and Peace)

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I hate unions. A higher minimum wage always reduces pressure for the unskilled to unionize.

[dinodino]

Actually, unions are some of the chief proponents of an increase in the minimum wage, since union contract labor rates are often indexed to a multiple of the prevailing minimum wage. I hate labor unions too, and the fact that unions will be huge beneficiaries of an increase in the minimum wage is Reason Number #63 to *not* increase the minimum wage.

[PAR35]

President Eisenhower on the minimum wage:

he also pushed integration.