Michigan’s minimum wage is set to rise on New Year’s Day.
The state’s minimum wage will increase from $8.90 to $9.25. The rate is slightly lower for some trainees and teen workers. Restaurant and other workers who rely on tips will also not be making the new minimum wage.
Wendy Block is a spokeswoman with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Block says Michigan has the highest state minimum wage in the region. Though she admits, so far, it has not seemed to affect the state’s overall unemployment rate.
“We though are concerned about further efforts to increase that and make Michigan an even greater outlier in this area,” says Block.
A group is circulating petitions to put raising Michigan’s minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2022 on the November ballot.
Alicia Renee Farris is the chair of the Michigan One Fair Wage campaign.
She says the petition campaign is “on point” to deliver more than a quarter million signatures in April.
“We see the $12 an hour as being a pathway to economic justice,” says Farris.
November’s general election ballot may see numerous controversial ballot questions, including marijuana legalization and changing the process of drawing political district boundaries.
