There are 14 states that have changed their minimum-wage law since January 2014. The effective minimum wage has increased in 26 states and D.C. since January 2014. 23 sub-state localities have adopted minimum wages above their state minimum wage.
There are 29 states and D.C. that have a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage. The minimum wage is indexed for inflation in 15 states and D.C., meaning it is automatically adjusted each year for increases in prices. There are 7 states that have no minimum-wage law or a minimum wage below the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage applies in all of these states. Only D.C. has a minimum wage higher than $10.
Economic Policy Institute – Minimum Wage Tracker
Because of preemption of minimum wage in 2003. Cities in Texas are denied the ability to determine their own wages.
We believe there should be other means to helping poor and middle class families living in the city of Houston.
Problems:
- If Starbucks reallocated money from share repurchases to compensation, every worker could get a $7,000 raise.
- If the money currently spent on buybacks, Lowe’s, CVS, and Home Depot could give each of their workers raises of at least $18,000 a year.
Solutions:
- Make the republicans in the Texas legislature look ridiculous by tying the current minimum wage of $7.25 to inflation. This roughly comes out to a 5 cent raise every year
- A $15 minimum wage would only cause a 4.3% increase at fast food restaurants
- Prohibit city contractors from including poaching clauses
- Create a ballot initiative to pass a $15 minimum wage for IAH and Hobby airports similar to a ballot initiative in Denver
- Advocate for ending no-poach clauses in employee contracts which push wages downwards for fast food workers (similar to other states here, here and here)
- Implement a $15 minimum wage for 8,000 city employees, city contractors and subcontractors
- Advocate for youth under the age of 18 to have a $15 minimum wage
Texas Constitution
Code – Labor
Chapter – 62 Minimum Wage
Section – 62.0515 Application of Minimum Wage to Certain Government Entities; Certain Agreements with Governmental Entities
American Legislative Exchange Council – Living Wage Mandate Preemption Act
Analysis of Who Would Benefit from a Minimum Wage Increase in Harris County
Houston Chronicle – Alternatives to Raising Minimum Wage
Restaurants and grocery chains are leading the fight against a $6.50 minimum wage in Houston
EPI – 20 States Raise Their Minimum Wages While the Federal Minimum Continues to Erode
Wall Street Journal – Better Than Raising the Minimum Wage
Polling indicate that 55 percent of Texas voters support increasing $10 minimum wage
NELP Applauds Veto of Missouri Legislation Barring Local Action on Minimum Wage
S.F., Oakland Mayors Push for State Minimum Wage Increase
Santa Fe to raise minimum wage to $10.91 per hour
Lexington council agrees to consider ordinance to raise minimum wage to $10.10 an hour
Council Changes Timeline For Las Cruces Minimum Wage Increases
LA Times – Santa Monica votes to raise its minimum wage
Tiffin city council could apply minimum wage ordinance to adults only
Berkley – Cities and Counties with Minimum Wage Ordinances
City of Santa Monica Passes Minimum Wage and Sick Leave Ordinance
US News – The Latest Wage Hike: Birmingham, Alabama
CNN – Lexington to boost minimum wage to $10.10
University of Alabama announces it will raise minimum wage to $11 for its employees
Montana mayor considers minimum wage hike
Louisiana City enters second phase of minimum wage increase
Wall Street Journal – One Solution for the Federal Minimum Wage: Five Minimum Wages
Doing the Right Thing, the Right Way: A Regional Minimum Wage
City of Santa Clara – Minimum Wage Ordinance
Indiana University Health raises minimum wage to $11 an hour
U.S. Department of Labor – Minimum Wage Mythbusters
NELP – Arizona Governor Threatens Financial Retribution Against Cities That Raise Minimum Wage
Governor of Oregon Signs into law a 3 tiered minimum wage, first in the country
Albuquerque Journal – Albuquerque’s minimum wage increases on Jan. 1
North Liberty will allow wage increase to $9.15
Governor of Virgin Islands Signs Minimum Wage Increase Bill Into Law
City of Malibu readies itself to establish minimum wage ordinance
Arizona ballot measure eyes $12 minimum wage, paid sick leave
NBC Bay Area – Sunnyvale City Council Raises Minimum Wage
Time – Why Restaurants and Stores Are Hiring More Full-Time Workers
Minneapolis $15-an-hour minimum wage petition has enough signatures for November ballot
San Mateo seeks $15 by 2019: City Council unanimously approves minimum wage increase
Mercury News – San Leandro increases minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020
NPR – Minnesota’s minimum wage increases to $9.50 an hour
NPR – Study: Minneapolis wage hike would help at least 47k low-paid workers
Seacoast Bank increases its minimum wage as ‘right thing to do’
Cleveland Business – Part-time workers’ rights amendment headed for Cleveland ballot in November
Des Moines Register – Polk County minimum wage hike approved; teens exempted
Des Moines Register – Wapello County board votes to raise minimum wage
Des Moines Register – Iowa’s next minimum wage hike isn’t where you’d expect
Bill Moyers – The Minimum Wage Doesn’t Apply to Everyone
The Gazette – Linn County minimum wage could include future increases based on Consumer Price Index
Salt Lake Tribune – Utah voters show mixed support for raising minimum wage
Tentative deal for 30,000 state workers includes raises, $12 minimum wage
USA Today – Arizona’s minimum wage likely to jump 10 cents in 2017
Ohio minimum wage increasing 5 cents, to $8.15, in 2017
Bloomberg – Highest Minimum-Wage State Washington Beats U.S. in Job Creation
Miami Herald – Bucking party, 2 Republicans back minimum wage increase
Milwaukee County Board votes to approve $15 hour minimum wage
Philly Voice – Prevailing wage law expanded to include service workers in Philadelphia
Buzz Feed – Airport Workers Win First $15 Hourly Wage And Union
Curbing Stock Buybacks: A Crucial Step to Raising Worker Pay and Reducing Inequality
Bexar County commissioners approve budget, $15 living wage for county employees
Proposed labor watchdog would give city’s worker protection laws some teeth