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What I’ve Been Reading This Week: Hourly Wage Rates Edition

 

This week was chock full of updates about hourly wage rates around the country.  Whether it be minimum wage legislation advancing past committee in Delaware, McDonald’s workers striking for higher wage rates, Rhode Island’s Governor signing a $15/hour minimum wage bill into law, or the Maine House of Representatives approving legislation to raise the wage rates for public school workers in the state, there is something here for everyone. 

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


Delaware House Committee Advances $15/Hour Minimum Wage Legislation

Late last month, the Delaware House Economic Development Committee advanced SB 15 which would raise the hourly minimum wage rate in the state to $15/hour by 2025.  The  legislation would raise the state’s hourly minimum wage rate by $1/hour starting next year.  (Currently, the hourly minimum wage rate is $9.25.)  It is worth noting that the Committee, which is controlled by Democrats, advanced SB 15 with an 8 - 5 vote along party lines.  Whether this legislation can make it through the Delaware Legislature and become law remains to be seen.  However, if I were a betting man, I would keep my eye on this one as likely to eventually reach the finish line. 


McDonald’s Workers Strike In Support of Higher Wage Rates

Readers might recall that McDonald’s had recently announced a pay raise, although this pay raise would only impact workers at its corporate owned locations.  On the heels of that announcement (which is expected to only impact 5% of McDonald’s locations, McDonald’s workers in 15 cities decided to strike this past Wednesday to bring awareness to their fight for higher wages.  Joining these workers in their strike was Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who voiced their support on a livestream for higher wages for these McDonald’s workers.  Whether the strike and support from members of Congress leads to any substantial change is unclear at this point, however.


Rhode Island Minimum Wage Rate On the Rise

The Associated Press reported that Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee has recently signed into law minimum wage legislation that will raise the hourly wage rate from $11.50/hour up to $15/hour by January 1, 2025.  Notably, the tipped minimum wage rate will remain at $3.89/hour.  Regardless of the fact that the tipped minimum wage rate is staying the same, this is a notable wage hike in yet another state.


Maine House of Representatives Advances $16/Hour Wage Rate For Public School Workers

By a 73 - 71 vote, the Maine House of Representatives has narrowly approved legislation that would raise the hourly pay rate for all public school workers to $16/hour.  The $16/hour pay rate would apply to all public school workers:  teacher aides, janitors, staff, etc.  As The Bangor Daily News notes, the legislation will now move to the Maine Senate where its passage is anything but assured.  Part of the resistance to this legislation is concern that smaller school districts in rural areas would struggle to afford this increase in labor costs.  Whether that concern is enough to derail this legislation remains to be seen.

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