Under the laws of all states in this country, employees are employed at the will of the employer unless there is a written agreement to the contrary. From what you have written, it seems that your employer is on a process of eliminating the longer tenured employees.To answer your question, if you want a pay increase, you need to ask for it. I suggest that from what you have written that you might consider looking for another position elsewhere if you do not get the pay increase you want if an increased hourly rate is not negotiable from your standpoint.