Minimum Wage Increases in Several States [View all]

[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 .