Over the past several years, many states have been revisiting their minimum wage standards. The process is really nothing new, and happens every couple of years to adjust for things like inflation and the general economic atmosphere of the both the state and the Union.
Currently, the federal minimum wage sits at just $7.25/hour. And while many liberals have vocalized support for a federal raise in the minimum wage to $15/hour, conservatives generally reject raising the current minimum.
On the local level, various states and cities have inched closer to that $15/hour standard. Unfortunately, Birmingham is not one of those willing to show support for their minimum wage workers.
Birmingham Votes on Minimum Wage
Relief came to many minimum wage workers in Alabama during the summer of 2015, when the Birmingham city council voted to increase the minimum wage from just over $7/hour to $10.10/hour.
The ordinance passed, meaning Birmingham workers would see a significant bump in their paychecks by the summer of 2017. The pay bump would affect nearly 40,000 Birmingham residents.
House Bill 174
Despite the progressive nature of the Birmingham city council, state representatives can’t say the same. House Republicans introduced HB174 in an attempt to override the city council vote.
HB 174 essentially bans Alabama cities and counties from having the power to increase minimum wages. The bill will also reverse the ordinance vote in Birmingham.
The bill unsurprisingly passed the Republican-led House, in a 71-31 vote. The bill quickly went into the Republican-controlled Senate, where it passed after Senate Democrats attempted to filibuster.
Republican Senator Bill Hightower even went on to say that “we should lower the minimum wage.”
Battle Emerges in Birmingham
The wage hike is important not only to the city, but to the state as well. Birmingham was the very first city in the Deep South to approve a higher city minimum wage. If Birmingham loses the battle, it also means they lose a spotlight in our history books.
But history has now been written, and the residents of Birmingham are none too pleased. Once HB174 passed through both the House and Senate, it was immediately signed into law by Republican Governor Robert Bentley.
In response to HB 174, Birmingham city council still plans to increase minimum wages. The power of local governments will now be a matter for the courts to decide.
Learn more about Alabama wage battles at http://fightfor15.org/
Image via al.com
