Minimum wage

Governor Also Vetoes Tip Credit Bill That Accompanied Increase

May 27, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today vetoed a bill that would have raised the state’s minimum wage from $7.65 to $8 beginning Jan. 1, 2009, and to $8.25 beginning Jan. 1, 2010.

Bridgeport, Connecticut: Photo by Noah G-L (CC)

In addition to vetoing House Bill 5105, An Act Concerning the Minimum Wage, the Governor also vetoed Senate Bill 55, An Act Concerning the Tip Credit, which is rendered unnecessary by the veto of House Bill 5105.    » read more »

April 17, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today signed LD 1697, An Act To Ensure Fair Wages. The bill raises the minimum wage from the current $7 an hour to $7.25 on Oct. 1, 2008. On Oct. 1, 2009, the minimum wage will increase to $7.50 an hour.

McDonald's employees: Photo by The Consumerist (CC)

“We need to make sure we do everything we can to reward work,” said Governor Baldacci. “Maine men and women should be able to earn a living wage so they can support their families. There is no safety net better than a job with benefits.”    » read more »

November 01, 2007 -- LOS ANGELES—Citing the threat of a “shadowy, underground economy,” California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued the Brinas Corporation, a Los Angeles drywall contractor that unlawfully forced its employees to work without the benefit of legally mandated conditions.    » read more »

Maryland’s living wage law, the first of its kind nationwide, takes effect October 1st

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 31, 2007) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Secretary Thomas E. Perez today joined labor leaders and workers in Annapolis to announce, in honor of Labor Day, the implementation plan for the statewide living wage law, which takes effect October 1.    » read more »

August 14, 2007 - The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth is committed to improving existing products and services in order to effectively serve the citizens of Michigan. The August edition of the Job Show, the monthly cable TV show produced by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) highlights this commitment by featuring the prevailing wage law, on-site licensing, and how the state of Michigan has enhanced and strengthened their process.    » read more »

Jul 16, 2007 -- Canton, Mississippi – On the first day of Senator John Edwards' three-day "Road to One America" tour, Edwards unveiled new initiatives to respect and reward low-wage workers. The initiatives include protecting workers from routine abuses of minimum wage, overtime, and safety laws through a new taskforce and guaranteeing sick leave so workers who are sick or need to take their child to the emergency room will not lose their job.    » read more »

Cleveland, Ohio – Today at the United Steelworkers conference, John Edwards outlined his agenda to create One America where everyone's hard work is rewarded and families can build a better life. The plans includes gradually increasing the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2012 and ensuring that it continues to rise so minimum-wage workers will share in our nation's prosperity.    » read more »

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – As part of his agenda to build One America where every person has the chance to work hard and get ahead, Senator John Edwards today will call for a raise in the minimum wage. At appearances at the National Education Association's Annual Meeting and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now's Candidates Forum, Edwards will call for gradually increasing the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2012 and ensuring that it continues to rise so minimum-wage workers will share in our nation's prosperity.    » read more »

June 29, 2007 -- LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today reminded Michigan citizens that a higher state minimum wage will go into effect this Sunday, July 1, as the result of legislation she called for and signed into law last year. The increase will result in a raise for more than half a million Michigan workers.    » read more »

Statewide minimum wage hike will benefit nearly 650,000 hardworking Illinoisans

June 29, 2007 -- CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today reminded Illinois workers that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $7.50 an hour starting this Sunday, July 1, helping nearly 650,000 workers pay for basic necessities like groceries, rent, gas, childcare or medicines.    » read more »

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 25, 2007) – Minimum-wage employees in Kentucky will see a boost in their income this week as their pay rises by 70 cents per hour.

Beginning June 26, the minimum wage will rise from the current $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour. Two future increases are scheduled – to $6.55 per hour, effective July 1, 2008, and $7.25 per hour, effective July 1, 2009.

The legislation puts Kentucky in compliance with the federal minimum wage when it changes.    » read more »

State Wage Will Rise To $7.15/Hour

June 18, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – An estimated 400,000 workers in the commonwealth will see their hourly pay increase to $7.15 on July 1 when the state’s minimum wage rises for the second time this year, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

The increase for small employers (those who employ 10 or fewer full-time workers) will rise to $6.65 per hour. The increases were approved by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor last July.    » read more »

May 26, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C—Last night, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the President signing the minimum wage increase into law.

“While I know that many Americans are deeply troubled about the bill the President has signed today, there is one thing in this legislation that we can all celebrate – a long-overdue increase in the minimum wage.    » read more »

Long Overdue Raise for Working Families First Increase in 10 Years

May 25, 2007 -- Last night, the U.S. Congress approved what will be the first increase in the federal minimum wage in a decade. The measure would raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 an hour in three stages over two years. Over the past 10 years, inflation has depleted the value of the federal minimum wage to its lowest level in more than 50 years.    » read more »

May 3, 2007 -- CONCORD - Providing assistance to New Hampshire's working families, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today signed a law increasing New Hampshire's minimum wage.

"Many of our families are working hard just to get by. They are struggling to pay for gas, rent, childcare and groceries. The cost of all these things has increased significantly in the last 10, but New Hampshire's minimum wage has not," Gov. Lynch said. "Today, we are going to change that and provide relief to New Hampshire's working families."    » read more »