An estimated 4.5 million U.S. workers will benefit from a series of minimum wage increases that went into effect today, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute. The wage increases were the result of either new legislation, successful ballot measures, or inflation-related adjustments established by existing formulas. They were scheduled to begin on January 1, 2018, in 18 states across the country. (EPI cited throughout)
Fast Company
January 1, 2018
The minimum wage is set to rise for workers in 18 states and about 20 cities and counties on Sunday and Monday. The increases will give $5 billion to 4.5 million workers over the course of the year, according to the left-leaning research group Economic Policy Institute. It’s likely that most of that money will be spent rather than saved, said David Cooper, a senior economic analyst with EPI. (Dave quoted throughout)
CNN Money
December 31, 2017
Eighteen states are bumping up their minimum wage this week, which the Economic Policy Institute estimates will result in $5 billion more per year in workers’ pockets. Twenty cities will raise their minimum wage, too, according to the National Employment Law Project. In 10 of these states, the uptick in the wage is due to either new legislation passing or ballot measures that voters approved. In the other eight, workers are getting raises thanks to automatic cost-of-living increases built into the existing minimum wage laws.
Vice News
December 31, 2017
Here are the states with new minimum wages, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank that tracks minimum wage legislation: The institute estimates that the raises will impact 4.5 million workers. (For a map of the increases, go here.)
The Huffington Post
December 31, 2017
A new study published by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) on December 13th finds that at least $2 billion in stolen wages was recovered for workers across the United States in 2015 and 2016. “Wage theft is a growing and pervasive problem that robs workers of billions of dollars every year. Yet little progress has been made to address this epidemic,” stated EPI Labor Counsel Celine McNicholas who wrote the report along with Research Assistant Zane Mokhiber, and intern Adam Chaikof. The findings come from a survey of state labor departments and attorneys general, data from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and information from class action settlements. (whole story)
Workday Minnesota
December 29, 2017
Employers in those 18 states will have to distribute more than $5 billion in additional pay to millions of workers come January, according to U.S. News & World Report. In Maine, the minimum pay will rise from $9 per hour to $10, the largest increase of any state in the new year, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Romper
December 29, 2017
Minimum wage workers in 18 states will see larger paychecks starting Jan. 1, according to the Economic Policy Institute, thanks primarily to minimum wage increases approved by either voters or state legislatures. (Dave quoted throughout)
The Washington Post
December 29, 2017
Citing numerous documented violations of tipping and labor laws, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI)–a left-leaning think tank–says allowing tip sharing would be disastrous for workers. The organization estimates that employers could legally pocket $5.8 billion in tips (16 percent of their employee’s tipped earnings) under the DOL proposal.
Consumer Affairs
December 28, 2017
Arizona is one of 18 states hiking the minimum wage on New Year’s Day, with the increases ranging up to $1 an hour in Maine, according to the Economic Policy Institute, which favors wage hikes. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has not increased since 2009, the research group noted.
Arizona Republic
December 28, 2017
Left-leaning think tank Economic Policy Institute estimates that the increases will benefit 4.5 million workers. In the absence of Congress raising the wage floor, states and cities are tasking themselves with paying the lowest rung of workers a bit more. “Increasing the minimum wage is a crucial tool to help stop growing wage inequality, particularly for women and people of color who disproportionately hold minimum wage jobs,” according to EPI economic analyst Janelle Jones.
Yahoo News
December 28, 2017