Missouri, Alaska and Nebraska are voting on ballot measures that could raise wages for nearly a million workers

By Michael Arria
Truthout, October 12, 2024

This election season, there’s understandably been intense focus on ballot questions that will affect reproductive rights, but there’s been less discussion of the fact that multiple states will also be voting on whether to raise their minimum wage and grant workers paid sick time.

Twenty-six states have an initiated constitutional amendment process, which allows citizens to place legislation on the ballot for a vote by gathering a predetermined number of...

By Delonte Harrod
Intersection Magazine, Oct 11, 2024

The fight to provide Maryland citizens with a livable wage continues. On Monday, Oct. 7, members from activist organizations stood alongside Tom Dernoga (District 1), and Krystal Oriadha (District 7)  at The Wayne K. Curry building in Upper Marlboro to publicly advocate for a bill that would index the minimum wage in Prince George’s County. ... 

Last year, The Intersection reported on the Fair Wage Act. In 2023, a small group of business leaders from Virginia, Maryland and DC met with Gov. Wes Moore so that he...

By Clara Bates
Missouri Independent, October 10, 2024. Also in Yahoo News, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Springfield News Leader, St. Louis Business Journal, Spectrum 1 News, Columbia Daily Tribune, The Pitch KC, Warrensburg Star-Journal, Sedalia Democrat, Republic Monitor (Perryville), Phelps County Focus (Rolla), St. Joseph Post, Call Newspapers (St. Louis).

A measure that would guarantee paid sick leave for over 700,000 Missouri workers who currently lack it, as well as gradually raise the minimum wage to $15, will appear on voters’ ballots next month.

The ballot initiative, called Proposition A, has been backed by various...

By La'shawn Donelson
Your Alaska Link, October 7, 2024

Alaskans are gearing up for the general election next month. Along with choosing the next President, and U.S. Representative, there are two ballot measures that Alaskans will have to vote for. One measure would increase the minimum wage and require sick and paid leave for employees. ...

Alaska Business for Better Jobs and small businesses across the state are pushing for workers to get a pay increase. ...

Small businesses in Anchorage, like A.K. Bark tell Your Alaska Link why workers should be paid more than...

Op-Ed By Derrick Green
Anchorage Daily News, October 6, 2024. Also in the Peninsula Clarion (Kenai-Soldotna), Homer News, Bristol Bay Times & Dutch Harbor Fisherman, Arctic Sounder.

Alaska small businesses are the vital heart of our local economy. I know that as a restaurant owner and as treasurer of the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce. I’m supporting Ballot Measure 1 to raise Alaska’s minimum wage and enable workers to earn paid sick time because it will help our businesses and our communities thrive.

I’m a proud Army veteran. My life’s mission changed when my late...

Op-Ed By Cary Fristoe
Fairbanks Daily News Miner, October 6, 2024

As a small business owner, I understand that my employees are the most important piece of the business puzzle. It is essential that they are afforded the opportunity to earn enough money to not only survive but to feel valued on the job, with the ability to have work-life balance.

I strongly support Ballot Measure 1, which would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by July 2027 and assure that workers can earn some paid sick time. It makes good business sense.

I...

By Cameron Gerber
Jefferson City News Tribune, October 2, 2024. Also the Fulton Sun

Missourians will vote on a proposal to raise the state's minimum wage next month...

“When you take care of your employees, they stay longer and take good care of your customers. That’s the key to sustaining a successful small business like we have for more than 20 years," Laurie Knowlton, a member of Missouri Business for a Healthy Economy and supporter of the measure, said in a statement. "When businesses don’t pay enough to retain employees, they waste time and money...

By Cameron Montemayor
St. Joseph News Press, October 2, 2024. Also Yahoo News.

Among the historic races and ballot measures in the November general election, voters in Missouri will also see a proposal seeking to raise the state's minimum wage ... The measure would also establish a new standard for accruing paid sick leave. ...

Given the challenges many businesses still face with hiring and retaining employees since the COVID-19 pandemic, Andi Montee, owner of Mokaska Coffee, has long supported a minimum wage increase for that and a myriad of reasons, including putting more money in...

By McKenna Schueler
Orlando Weekly, Oct 1, 2024

Florida’s minimum wage increased by one dollar on Monday, making its wage floor now the highest in the U.S. Southeast. The state minimum wage is now $13 an hour for workers who don’t receive tips, and $8.98 an hour for tipped employees. This dollar increase came as a direct result of a ballot measure approved by a majority of Florida voters in 2020 to gradually increase the state minimum wage to $15 an hour.

As a result of this measure, Florida’s minimum wage rose to $10 an...

Op-Ed By Ed Flanagan
Anchorage Daily News, Sep 27, 2024

Let’s start with a little trivia: 10 years ago, one of the most popular ballot measures to ever be on an Alaska statewide ballot passed. What was it? ... The answer: In 2014, the ballot measure to increase Alaska’s minimum wage passed with almost 70% of the vote (69.35%, to be exact).

This year, Alaskans will vote on Ballot Measure 1 in November. It is a renewed effort to gradually increase Alaska’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by July 2027 and allow all Alaska...

By Matt Acuña Buxton
The Alaska Current, Sep 25, 2024. Also in Sol de Medianoche.

In the years since the pandemic, we’ve seen story after story about worker shortages that are filled with employers complaining that nobody wants to work anymore. The question that comes to mind — which isn’t always asked — is, “Well, are you paying them enough?”

At Waffles and Whatnot — a beloved East Anchorage restaurant serving up waffles, fried chicken and more — you won’t find any complaints about worker shortages or worker turnover. There, owner Derrick Green prides himself...

By Iris Samuels
Anchorage Daily News, Sep 24, 2024

Several groups representing Alaska businesses are opposed to a ballot initiative that would increase the state’s minimum wage and guarantee Alaska workers paid sick leave, though no money has so far been spent campaigning against the measure. ...

Over 100 small business owners in Alaska have publicly expressed their support for the initiative, including some in the tourism industry. ...

Read more
 

By Steve Kirch
Alaska's News Source, Sep. 20, 2024

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A $15 minimum wage, small business sick leave requirements and ‘protecting workers’ constitutional rights’ are what ballot measure 1 supporters are asking November voters to say ‘yes’ to. ...

AK Bark owner Mark Robokoff said he supports measure 1 because he said he believes it will help small business operators. The proposal would raise the state minimum wage incrementally to $15 per hour by 2027. Measure 1 also comes with sick leave provisions.

“You know when you look at a huge segment...

By Ava White
Alaska Public Media, September 5, 2024

A ballot measure that would raise Alaska’s minimum wage and allow workers to earn paid sick leave received support Thursday from a coalition of business owners. Members of Alaska Business for Better Jobs think the measure would positively impact Alaska businesses. ...

Derrick Green owns Waffles and Whatnot, a restaurant in east Anchorage. He has seven employees, who are already paid more than $15 an hour and accrue sick leave. ... Green said offering higher pay and paid time off makes workers happy, and when workers...

Alaska's News Source, KTUU-TV/KYES-TV Anchorage and KATH-TV Juneau
News, September 5, 2024

Alaska Business for Better Jobs formally announced support for Ballot Measure 1. ... Today leaders for the coalition - that's more than 120 local businesses joined - met at the AK Bark pet store in midtown [Anchorage], calling the ballot measure good for Alaska businesses. [Jasmin Smith, owner of The Business Boutique]: "... people have more money in their pockets to spend, and they're not struggling, and they're healthy, and they can go to work, you know, gainfully, and provide for their families...