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Minimum Wage Woes: 38 Different State and Local Wage Hikes Ring in the New Year: 12 Local Increases in California Alone; Accumulating Evidence Shows Unintended Consequences Of These Hikes
January 2018
Washington D.C.–Today the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) is highlighting the 38 state and local minimum wage increases occurring either December 31st or January 1st. Eighteen states and 20 localities are raising their minimum wages on New Year’s, with the largest percentage increases occurring in the California localities of Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale. See the full table of New Year’s minimum wage increases below. (Unless otherwise… -
New Study Finds $15 Wage Will Cost 400k California Jobs By 2022: Miami, Trinity University Economists Draw Their Conclusions From Government Data Covering Three Decades Of State Wage Increases
December 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) released a new study by Drs. David Macpherson of Trinity University and William Even of Miami University measuring the effects of California’s minimum wage increases over the past three decades. Using a variety of empirical models, the economists conclude that each 10 percent increase in the state’s minimum wage causes a nearly five-percent reduction in California industries with… -
Fight for $15’s Labor Day “Strike” Curtain Call: Movement struggling after funding cut, legislator rejection, critical studies
September 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) highlighted the exhausted momentum of the SEIU’s Fight for $15, which has suffered numerous financial, academic, and legislative setbacks in recent months. Yet another round of coordinated Fight for $15 protests are set to occur nationwide on Labor Day. This is just the latest Fight for $15 media stunt; previous ones have included the promise of civil disobedience and… -
Montgomery County Doubles Down on Misguided $15 Minimum Wage Effort: Councilmember Marc Elrich Introduces a New $15 Minimum Wage Bill Today
July 2017
Washington D.C. – Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) criticized Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich’s introduction of $15 minimum wage legislation for Montgomery County, Maryland. Montgomery County’s minimum wage is currently $11.50, and the bill requires many businesses to pay $15 per hour by 2020. This proposal comes after a push for a $15 minimum wage failed earlier in the year when Council Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett vetoed it due to concerns regarding… -
Minimum Wage, Maximum Hypocrisy: At Least 95 Percent of $15 Minimum Wage Cosponsors Hire Unpaid Interns: New analysis shows progressive legislators’ “do as I say, not as I do” minimum wage approach
June 2017
Washington D.C. – Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) released a new analysis showing that at least 95 percent of U.S. House and Senate cosponsors of recently introduced $15 federal minimum wage legislation hire interns who earn no wage at all. In total, 174 of the 184 “Raise the Wage Act” cosponsors and primary sponsors hire unpaid interns. In the Senate, Senators Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker,… -
July Forecast: Higher Temperatures, Higher Minimum Wages: 17 States and Localities will experience wage hikes on July 1st
June 2017
Washington D.C. – Today, The Employment Policies Institute (EPI) is highlighting the 17 minimum wage increases set to take place on July 1, 2017. These include two states, the District of Columbia and 14 other municipalities, threatening to destroy job opportunities for young adults across the country. You can view the full list of increases in the table below. Ten California cities and localities will see wage increases, with the general…