BOISE, Idaho – The drive to get signatures for a ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage in Idaho is ramping up. The group Idahoans for a Fair Wage has launched efforts to get a minimum wage hike on the 2020 ballot, calling on the state to raise wages incrementally to $12 an hour over four years.

Currently, the state minimum is the same as the federal, at $7.25. Rod Couch, treasurer and head of Idahoans for a Fair Wage, says the state's growing population is pushing housing prices up and making it even harder to live on a minimum-wage income.

"The reason we chose $12 is because back in 1968, the minimum wage was $1.60 an hour, which doesn't sound like much today, but in today's dollars it would be worth $11.59,” says Couch. “So, we're just trying to get back to 1968 levels."

According to federal and state estimates from 2017, 16,000 Idahoans made the federal minimum wage and more than 200,000 made less than $12 an hour. Attempts to raise the minimum wage in the state Legislature have faced strong opposition from Republicans, who claim employers won't be able to afford the increase and think the government shouldn't dictate wages.

Couch agrees he wants to make sure the measure doesn't harm businesses, especially small ones. However, studies have shown state minimum-wage increases don't hurt employment or the economy, and can actually help to save on turnover costs.

Couch says it would also give people more spending power.

"They don't have the money to go spend at their business, but if you put another $10,000 a year into their pocket, then they'll go around to the local economies and go out to eat, they'll go out to movies and buy a cup of coffee, and things like that,” says Couch.

Twenty-nine states have raised the minimum wage, including Idaho neighbors Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Backers of the measure must collect about 55,000 signatures, with six percent of registered voters in 18 of the state's 35 legislative districts, over the next 10 months.


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Washington home caregivers are negotiating with the state on wages and benefits. The caregivers' union, SEIU 775, is in talks with the Consumer Direct Care Network of Washington through the Consumer Directed Employer Rate Setting Board.

Nelly Prieto, a caregiver and executive board member for SEIU 775, said home care workers are struggling with the cost of living and inflation, which is compounded when they struggle to get 40 hours of work.

"If we don't have that then whatever we're getting paid, it's hard for us to survive on something like that," she explained.

SEIU 775 is looking to ensure wages of at least $25 per hour, continued affordable health coverage even when a caregiver's hours vary month to month, an increase in retirement benefits, and more paid time off and mileage reimbursement. The Consumer Directed Employer Rate Setting Board's next meeting is Monday.

Recruitment and retention of caregivers is among the union's biggest issues.

"If they don't get paid enough, well of course they're going to go ahead and look for something different, and it's always a big turnover," Prieto said.

Prieto added that caregivers are invested in their jobs and ensuring they provide their clients the care they need.

"Just because we love our clients and we want to continue doing this work, it doesn't mean that we don't deserve to have a dignifying living ourselves for our families and for us, to make sure that we take care of ourselves," Prieto added.

Starting next year, Michigan employers will need to pay workers more than $12 an hour, following a landmark ruling from the state Supreme Court.

The 4-to-3 decision reignited Michigan's 2018 ballot initiatives on the minimum wage and paid sick leave.

The wage will be $10 per hour, plus an adjustment for inflation since 2018. The ruling should mean higher pay for more than 800,000 workers in Michigan, including a 48% increase for tipped workers.

Saru Jayaraman, president of the advocacy group One Fair Wage, said her organization has been working for more than a decade to see this change in Michigan.

"By 2028, 1.2 million workers will get a raise," Jayaraman pointed out. "But it also means that Michigan becomes the first state in 40 years, and the first state east of the Mississippi, to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which is a direct legacy of slavery."

The head of Michigan's Restaurant and Lodging Association called the court decision "tone-deaf" In a statement, Justin Winslow said 40% of full-service restaurants in Michigan are already unprofitable and predicted the decision could force more of them to close permanently, eliminating up to 60,000 jobs.

However, other states are following suit. Jayaraman pointed out states with pending legislation to raise their minimum wages include Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Ohio.

"In total, we actually have this moving right now in a dozen states around the country," Jayaraman observed. "But Michigan is the first, the first to go."

The ruling also paves the way for extensive changes in worker compensation and benefits in Michigan. Those will not take effect until late February next year. In the meantime, Jayaraman added her group is also advocating for an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 an hour since 2009.


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Labor leaders in Maine say the approved construction of the world's largest energy storage system will also create quality union jobs.

The project will convert the former mill site in Lincoln, which closed in 2015, impacting hundreds of workers.

Jason Shedlock, president of the Maine Building and Construction Trades Council, said the project's labor agreements already in place ensure a well-trained workforce will earn a living wage.

"That money can be put back into the economy," said Shedlock, "and oh, by the way, we're also doing our part to reverse climate change with many of these green economy jobs."

Shedlock said the Biden administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is funding the project to strengthen New England's electric grid. He said the 85 megawatt system could serve up to 85,000 homes.

New England states will get nearly $400 million for regional electric infrastructure to support higher loads of renewable power, including up to 4,800 megawatts of additional offshore wind energy.

The investments aim to help improve grid reliability during peak demand times and increase resilience against extreme weather.

Shedlock said the region's clean energy transition must also include strong labor standards.

"The words just transition needs to actually mean something," said Shedlock, "and governmental entities need to take it seriously because we have the workers that have the skills."

Shedlock said it's important workers also have a chance to pass on those skills to the next generation through apprenticeship programs.

With Maine getting nearly $3 billion to strengthen infrastructure against the growing threat of climate change, he said the labor opportunities are endless.