Florida halfway to $15 minimum wage goal

As minimum wage staff across the nation get a raise within the new 12 months, Florida is halfway to its $15 goal.

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

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

Yes, however: Some Central Florida tourism staff say that is not sufficient to meet rising prices.

• Some members of Local 737, which represents 1000’s of staff at six tourism firms in Central Florida, asked for at least an $18/hour minimum wage in contract negotiations in November to account for rising hire, meals and gasoline costs.
• Walt Disney World staff, who at present get $15/hour, are in the midst of negotiations for $20.

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

• The greatest issue driving nationwide will increase was inflation. Thirteen states tie their minimum wage charge to the Consumer Price Index, as Wolters Kluwer notes in a brand new analysis.
• 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 minimum wage $15 by 2026 — so it’ll enhance by a greenback on Sept. 30 yearly till then.

• Starting in 2027, the minimum wage can be adjusted annually for inflation.

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

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