New Year, more money: Florida halfway to $15 minimum wage goal

As minimal wage employees across the nation get a increase within the new yr, Florida is midway to its $15 aim.

State of play: Florida elevated its minimal wage within the fall by $1, so 987,000 employees — 11% of the workforce — began making $11/hour.

• They will get one other bump to $12 in September.

Sure, however: Some Central Florida tourism employees say that is not sufficient to satisfy rising prices.

• Some members of Native 737, which represents 1000’s of employees at six tourism firms in Central Florida, requested for no less than an $18/hour minimal wage in contract negotiations in November to account for growing hire, meals and gasoline costs.
• Walt Disney World employees, who at present get $15/hour, are within the midst of negotiations for $20.

The massive image: Minimal wage hikes in 23 states and Washington, D.C. went into impact this week, Axios’ Emily Peck stories.

• The largest issue driving nationwide will increase was inflation. 13 states tie their minimal wage price to the Shopper Value Index, as Wolters Kluwer notes in a brand new evaluation.
• Florida and a handful of different states had will increase set by laws or poll initiatives.

Flashback: Florida voters authorized a mandate in 2020 to make the minimal wage $15 by 2026 — so it’s going to enhance by a greenback on Sept. 30 yearly till then.

• Beginning in 2027, the minimal wage will probably be adjusted annually for inflation.

Zoom out: Whereas the federal wage ground stays $7.25, a rising variety of states have already got minimal wages of no less than $15 an hour, together with Washington ($15.74), California ($15.50) and Massachusetts ($15).

• Extra states will attain $15 an hour earlier than Florida, together with Connecticut (June 2023), New Jersey (2024) and Illinois (2025).