St. Paul, Minnesota—Today the House passed the Minimum Wage Bill, HF 92, on a 68 to 62 vote. The bill will raise the minimum wage for large employers to $8.00 in 2013, $9.00 in 2014 and $9.50 in 2015 and raise the minimum wage for small employers to $7.00 in 2013, $8.00 in 2014 and $8.50 in 2015. The minimum wage will automatically adjust to inflation starting in 2016, and will be capped at 2.5%.
The majority of Minnesotans are now earning less than they did a decade ago despite being better educated and more productive than ever before. As this wage gap has grown, so have the costs of living for middle class families across the state. Raising the minimum wage will affect a large number of workers who currently earn low-wages in the restaurant, healthcare, service and other industries and will put more money in the pockets of middle class families.
“This will raise wages for over 350,000 Minnesotans and boost our state economy,” said bill author Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley). “In Minnesota, we believe that hard work should pay.”
The bill also conforms to federal standards that define large employers as those making $500,000 or more and allow 12 weeks of birth or adoption leave. A provision to define overtime as anything over 40 hours per week, including for agricultural employees, was removed from the bill during floor debate.
“We should make it easier for both employers and workers to comply with work rules,” said Rep. Winkler. “This is about Minnesota workers and Minnesota’s economy. Raising the minimum wage puts more money into workers’ pockets, and they spend it in the community. Businesses win when their customers have more money to spend.”
After years of undermining the middle class and low wage workers, raising the minimum wage will help Minnesota workers and boost business across the state. The state minimum wage was last raised in 2005 to $6.15 for large employers and $5.25 for small employers. Most Minnesota workers currently make the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for large employers.
Rep. Winkler can be reached by phone at (651) 296-7026 or by email at rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn. Follow the Select Committee on Twitter @livingwagejobmn.
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