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


To the surprise of few, minimum wage has continued to be a hot button issue.  With Donald Trump recently shifting his position on the issue, I think it is likely the topic will remain a centerpiece of the Presidential campaigns through November.  On that note, I wanted to highlight a few recent developments across the country on the issue.

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


Cleveland City Council to Consider Minimum Wage Hike

From the NBC affiliate in Cleveland, it has been reported that the Cleveland City Council is to consider a petition that requests a minimum wage hike in the city.  The petition seeks $15/hour, up from Ohio's current minimum wage rate of $8.10/hour.  Stay tuned as this one progresses.


The Continued Fight For Workers in Seattle to Actually Receive the Right Minimum Wage

Heidi Groover over at the Stranger has an in depth note on the struggle among some minimum wage workers in Seattle to actually receive the correct minimum wage from their employers.  In this article, Groover points to workers at LSG Sky Chefs who have had a prolonged "fight" with their employer to actually receive the correct minimum wage.  Unsurprising that many employers have continued to resist paying the higher wages (whether intentional or simply an oversight), but this article puts a good "face" on the issue.


California U.S. Senate Candidates Debate Minimum Wage Increase

Interesting article on a recent debate among several California U.S. Senate candidates in which the topic of minimum wage came up.  While some voiced support for a $15 minimum wage, others argued that the minimum wage should be "scaled" to account for urban/rural economic differences.  (This is similar to what Hillary Clinton has advocated for recently).  It goes to show that even in a state like California where $15/hour is soon to become a reality, the debate is far from over on the topic.


Potential Winners & Losers of California's Minimum Wage Hike

The Pasadena Star-News has an interesting look at the perceived winners and losers of California's recent minimum wage hike.  Although $15/hour will not become a reality until it is fully scaled in, come 2022, Kevin Smith offers his thoughts on who will benefit (and suffer) from the minimum wage hike.  Worth a read for those interested in how far reaching the minimum wage issue actually stretches.

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