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


This week I came across several articles dealing with the minimum wage movement that is happening in towns, cities, and states across the country.  In fact, at the most recent Democratic Presidential debate this past Sunday, all the candidates stated that raising wages would be a top priority in the first 100 days of their administration (note that Senator Bernie Sanders and Governor Martin O'Malley both stated they supported $15.00 per hour while Senator Clinton did not 'commit' to a specific hourly rate.)  Given the increased coverage this movement has started to receive, I thought it would be a good time to dedicate this post to the topic.

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


Santa Monica City Council Approves Minimum Wage Hike

Earlier this month, the Santa Monica City Council approved a minimum wage hike that would raise wages at most businesses in the city to $15.00 per hour by 2020.  It is interesting to note that  businesses would also be required to provide paid leave for employees beyond the minimum three days that California currently requires.  Before this new ordinance becomes official, it will have to go before the City Council for a second reading.  In this instance, six council members voted in favor while one member abstained.



Boston.com has a note on former Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's recent comments in support of a higher federal minimum wage rate.  As the article highlights, Romney has championed a higher minimum wage rate for several years and has encouraged his party to take up the fight.  Readers might remember that in recent months, particularly at the Republican presidential debates, there has been little support for a higher federal minimum wage from most Republicans.  I question whether Romney has much influence to insert the minimum wage discussion into the Republican platform...but interesting nonetheless to see him raise the issue.



The Oregonian has provided details on a recent announcement from Oregon Governor Kate Brown who has proposed raising minimum wage rates in the state.  Under the compromise plan, two minimum wage rates would be set for Oregon:  one rate for workers in the Portland metro area and another rate for workers in the rest of the state.  For workers in Portland, the minimum wage rate would top out at $15.25 and workers in the rest of the state would see wages top out at $13.50.  Note that under this plan, the first increases would take effect in January 2017.  It goes without saying that this is a relatively progressive minimum wage proposal!



I rarely come across labor & employment law matters from Alaska...but this is a potentially big development.  As reported by the Associated Press, Alaskan state Senator Johnny Ellis has proposed raising the minimum wage in the state to $15 per hour.  This comes on the heels of voters approving a minimum wage hike back in 2014 that has put the current minimum wage rate in Alaska at $9.75 per hour.  This one is still in the early stages, but it will be interesting to see it develop.



Scott Thistle over at The Maine Sun Journal wrote a recent update on the minimum wage movement in Maine.  Recently, Mainers for Fair Wages, have collected more than 80,000 petition signatures to get a minimum wage issue on the ballot this year.  Under the proposal, Maine's current minimum wage of $7.50 per hour would increase to $12 per hour by 2025.  It is still too early to know how this one will end up, but it is one to keep an eye on this year.

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