New Jersey becomes 4th state to approve $15 hourly wage
Source: Associated Press
By MIKE CATALINI, Associated Press
Feb. 4, 2019 Updated: Feb. 4, 2019 1:18 p.m.
ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey became the latest state on Monday to boost its hourly minimum wage to $15 after Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a measure phasing in the higher rate over five years.
Murphy signed the bill alongside Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and Democratic legislative leaders at a raucous event in Elizabeth where advocates cheered, "Ready for 15," carried banners with their union affiliation and applauded loudly once the bill was signed.
"It is a great day to make some history for New Jersey's working families," Murphy said. "And that's just what we're going to do. We've talked long enough about putting New Jersey on a responsible path to $15 an hour minimum wage. Today we start our way on this path."
New Jersey joins California, Massachusetts, New York and the District of Columbia in phasing in the higher rate. The $15 wage is a prominent policy goal of left-leaning groups, as well as the fulfillment of a key campaign promise by Murphy.
Read more: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/us/article/NJ-Governor-Murphy-to-sign-15-hourly-minimum-13587116.php
SWBTATTReg
(22,166 posts)Missouri voters just hiked the minimum wage by 53 percent
More than 600,000 low-wage workers will get a raise.
By Alexia Fernández Campbell@AlexiaCampbellalexia@vox.com Updated Nov 7, 2018, 2:38pm EST
BumRushDaShow
(129,459 posts)Neighboring Kansas also implemented a $12/hr raise too.
I applaud every state that is raising the minimum to something closer to a "livable wage"!
Blarneyman
(14 posts)Still, it's a sad commentary on the country that less than half a dozen states pay workers a reasonable wage.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)where any that earn alot but pay most of their employees a barely above poverty level or worse wage pay higher taxes.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,214 posts)Minimum wage hikes are great, but they don't help middle income folks. Like lots of middle class folks, I've been in the $15 to $20 an hour range for 15 years! I'm finally, maybe, going to be making more. soon, but if my salary in 2003 kept up with inflation I'd be making close to $60K. Instead, I've been making $40K or less, despite my additional years of experience.