Well...about time...most would say--and a clear victory for those who have long agitated for such things..of note..this is not just a Blue state thing:
"The surge in higher minimum wages comes after years of lobbying and demonstrations from labor groups like the Fight for $15, which sprang up in 2012 to advocate for a living wage of $15 an hour. At the time, its goals struck some critics as far-fetched, but widening income inequality and spiraling housing costs are placing pressure on lawmakers to pass higher minimum wages.
Record-low unemployment across most of the country also has played a role, forcing employers to bid up wages to attract qualified employees. Late last year, Amazon raised its base pay for workers at warehouse operations around the country to $15. Even the conservative TV network Sinclair Broadcasting, after railing against minimum wage hikes in on-air commentaries, announced this month it would raise its starting pay to $15 an hour come December 29."
Workers in half of U.S. states will get a pay raise in 2020
States with wage hikes on Jan. 1
Each of the 21 states that are boosting their minimum wages at year-start, with their new minimum wage and percentage increase.
"The surge in higher minimum wages comes after years of lobbying and demonstrations from labor groups like the Fight for $15, which sprang up in 2012 to advocate for a living wage of $15 an hour. At the time, its goals struck some critics as far-fetched, but widening income inequality and spiraling housing costs are placing pressure on lawmakers to pass higher minimum wages.
Record-low unemployment across most of the country also has played a role, forcing employers to bid up wages to attract qualified employees. Late last year, Amazon raised its base pay for workers at warehouse operations around the country to $15. Even the conservative TV network Sinclair Broadcasting, after railing against minimum wage hikes in on-air commentaries, announced this month it would raise its starting pay to $15 an hour come December 29."
Workers in half of U.S. states will get a pay raise in 2020
States with wage hikes on Jan. 1
Each of the 21 states that are boosting their minimum wages at year-start, with their new minimum wage and percentage increase.
- Alaska - $10.19 (3%)
- Arizona - $12 (9.1%)
- Arkansas - $10 (8.1%)
- California - $13 (8.3%)
- Colorado - $12 (8.1%)
- Florida - $8.56 (1.2%)
- Illinois - $9.25 (12%)
- Maine - $12 (9.1%)
- Maryland - $11 (8.9%)
- Massachusetts - $12.75 (6.3%)
- Michigan - $9.65 (2.1%)
- Minnesota - $10 (1.4%)
- Missouri - $9.45 (9.9%)
- Montana - $8.65 (1.8%)
- New Jersey - $11 (10%)
- New Mexico - $9 (20%)
- New York - $11.80 (6.3%)
- Ohio - $8.70 (1.8%)
- South Dakota - $9.30 (2.2%)
- Vermont - $10.96 (1.7%)
- Washington - $13.50 (12.5%)