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What I've Been Reading This Week: Minimum Wage Edition


Minimum wage issues across the country are an ongoing development.  In some parts of the country (such as New York and California), minimum wage rates are going into effect with relative ease.  In other parts of the country (such as Minnesota and New Jersey), however, cities and states are struggling to approve minimum wage increases).  As a result, I think this is a good time to highlight minimum wage developments across the country and devote this post to that very topic.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Working the U.S. Open as a Ball Person

I know some readers of the blog are probably avid tennis fans...I know we have one loyal reader who follows tennis very closely.  CNN Money has a rather unique look at those who work the U.S Open as a ball person.  (For those not aware, the ball person at a tennis tournament is the person who chases after tennis balls all over the court, provides tennis balls to the players, etc.)  As Ahiza Garcia writes in this article, the U.S. Open is the only major tennis tournament to pay its ball people ($9/hour).  Interesting enough, there are some additional perks (such as free Ralph Lauren clothes) that appear to make this minimum wage job one of the more sought after positions.  Worth a quick read for those looking for information on a somewhat unique minimum wage position.


Minimum Wage Rates Rise in D.C. While Jobs Decline

Tim Worstall over at Forbes has one of the best studies of the impact rising minimum wage rates in D.C. have had on jobs in the city.  As he points out, since minimum wage rates went up in the city in July 2015 to $10.50, restaurant employment has increased less than 1%.  Conversely, restaurant jobs in the surrounding suburbs have increased 4.2% over at that same time frame.  While the article points out that other factors could lead to the slow growth of jobs in the city (and rightfully so), based upon the analysis and figures compiled by Worstall, I think a strong argument can certainly be made the rising minimum wage rates have not have the intended impact in D.C. as of yet.


How Trump & Clinton are Dealing With Students' Concerns About Minimum Wage

The Daily Collegian over at Penn State has an interesting take on how college students are making their voices heard in regard to minimum wage issues and the upcoming election.  The article does a good job tracking how Clinton has progressed on the issue (originally supporting a $12/hour wage rate but progressing to a $15/hour wage rate for most workers) while Trump has apparently been all over the map on the issue.  Worth a read for those interested on minimum wage issues as viewed by students.


How Could the Minimum Wage Fight Hurt Minor League Baseball Players?

Readers might remember the ongoing FLSA case filed by several minor leaguers who claimed they were not paid overtime nor minimum wage rates for their work playing baseball.  Recently, The IndyStar published an article by Matthew Van Tryon who has an in depth look at the impact the FLSA suit could have on minor league players going forward (teams could be forced to cut the number of minor league players/teams in order to afford to pay minimum wage rates) while also examining just how many minor league players are barely making enough money to clear the federal poverty line.  Well worth a read.


Minimum Wage Rates Go Up...But the Next Question is How to Enforce It

The Des Moines Register has a somewhat troubling look at the apparent lack of enforcement going on in regard to rising minimum wage rates throughout the state.  As the Iowa Labor Commissioner, Michael Mauro, stated "What counties to on their own [to enforce minimum wage rates] is going to be up to those counties."  As the article notes, several counties in the state that have chosen to raise their minimum wage rates are stuck trying to figure out how (or whether) to fine businesses that do not pay the higher wage rates.  Given the lack of action by the state itself, something tells me some counties simply will not devote the resources to enforce higher minimum wage rates (whether that be because of a lack of funds to do so or a simple unwillingness to push the issue).


Berkeley Approves $15/Hour Minimum Wage Rate

In late August, the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved raising minimum wage rates in the city to $15/hour by 2018.  Under the approved measure, the minimum wage rate will go to $12.53/hour on October 1, 2016, $13.75/hour on October 1, 2017, and $15/hour on October 1, 2018.  Starting July 1, 2019, the minimum wage rate will increase in accordance with the Consumer Price Index.  (Note, the current minimum wage rate in the city is $11/hour).  I would not call this measure all that surprising, given the rather liberal nature that California (and cities in the state) have shown recently to raise minimum wage rates.

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