Minimum Wage Increases in Several States

[TexasTowelie]

Note: I am an excerpt of this article since some of the other portions of the article from the Associated Press are the traditional right-wing arguments used by opponents of minimum wage increases that don't bear repeating. One of the most helpful pieces of information from the article was the graphic posted at the end of this thread.

New minimum wage requirements will take effect in 20 states and nearly two dozen cities around the start of the new year, affecting millions of workers. The state wage hikes range from an extra nickel per hour in Alaska to a $1-an-hour bump in Maine, Massachusetts and for California employers with more than 25 workers.

Seattle's largest employers will have to pay workers at least $16 an hour starting Tuesday. In New York City, many businesses will have to pay at least $15 an hour as of Monday. That's more than twice the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.

A variety of other new state laws also take effect Tuesday. Those include revisions to sexual harassment policies stemming from the #MeToo movement, restrictions on gun sales following deadly mass shootings and revamped criminal penalties as officials readjust the balance between punishment and rehabilitation.

The state and local wage laws come amid a multi-year push by unions and liberal advocacy groups to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide. Few are there yet, but many states have ratcheted up wages through phased-in laws and adjustments for inflation.

The complete article is at https://www.cullmantimes.com/news/prices-rise-as-the-minimum-wage-increases-in-several-states/article_d5bd25c6-0d33-11e9-88e7-63ad8a50dd81.html .

[eppur_se_muova]

1. The gray states on that map are pretty much all the ones you'd expect, too. nt

[lapucelle]

2. Parts of NYS went up to $15/hr. today, and all other minimum wage workers have also gotten a raise.

Andrew Cuomo has done a fine job of making good on this promise.

Happy New Year!

[BigmanPigman]

3. Is there a chart that compares the cost of living

in various states to the minimum wage? Should states with a higher cost of living increase the minimum wage proportionately to reflect that number?

[TexasTowelie]

5. Arrgh! Questions!

How dare you ask me questions while I'm indulging in my NYE buzz and still awake.

No, I didn't encounter any chart with the information you requested. However, a $15/hour jobwould be considered one of the better paying ones where I live.

[guillaumeb]

4. What if we replaced the phrase "minimum wage" with "living wage"?

And made that the centerpiece of the debate.

[TexasTowelie]

7. Arrgh! Another question.

See post #5 for my reaction.

And if we are going to allow replacements in the headline, I wouldn't mind seeing "universal basic income" instead. If we're going to dream, then dream big. That also eliminates the argument over whether the increase in the minimum wage will hurt small businesses.

[Clash City Rocker]

6. Good. The minimum wage is so low that fast food places advertise their starting wages

Knowing that they would have trouble finding people to flip burgers if they only paid the minimum wage.