Number
181187
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. ZIELINSKI, ALD. RAINEY AND ALD. BAUMAN
Title
Substitute resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee’s support for increasing the minimum wage in Wisconsin.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee’s support for Governor Tony Evers’ plan to increase the minimum wage in Wisconsin in phases to $15.00 per hour, with exceptions for teens and rural workers, and thereafter indexing the minimum wage to inflation.
Body
Whereas, Milwaukee suffers from a high rate of poverty, with 28.4% of the city's residents living on incomes below the official federal poverty line; and
Whereas, Such extreme levels of poverty do not simply mean a lack of income, but also make it impossible for many Milwaukeeans to rent decent housing, provide adequate nutrition for themselves and their families, pay their utility bills, and give their children the support needed to succeed in school; and
Whereas, The intense and persistent poverty that many Milwaukeeans experience damages their health, both by increasing stress and by impeding them from getting necessary health care; and
Whereas, The high level of poverty in Milwaukee also raises the rate of crime and disorder, contributing to the shockingly high level of incarceration of African-American men and undermining public safety in many of the city's neighborhoods; and
Whereas, One of the most significant causes of poverty in Milwaukee is that a large share of jobs in the local labor market pay low wages, which makes it difficult for workers who hold those jobs, even those working full-time and year-round, to rise above the poverty line; and
Whereas, Under current state law, the minimum wage for employees in Wisconsin is $7.25 per hour, with some exceptions as follows:
|
Adult |
$7.25 |
|
Minor |
$7.25 |
|
Opportunity Employee |
$5.90 |
|
Tipped Employee |
$2.33 |
|
Tipped Opportunity Employee |
$2.13 |
|
Caddies |
9 holes: $5.90 18 holes: $10.50 |
1. An employer must pay at least $2.33 per hour in wages. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's wages of at least $2.33 per hour do not equal at least $7.25, the employer must make up the difference.
2. Individuals under the age of 20 may be paid the "opportunity wage" of $5.90 per hour during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer. After 90 consecutive calendar days, or the employee reaches 20 years of age, whichever comes first, the employee must receive a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
; and
Whereas, The minimum wage in Wisconsin has been unchanged since July 24, 2009; and
Whereas, Governor Tony Evers has publicly supported raising the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour in phases over several years, and subsequently indexing the minimum wage to inflation; and
Whereas, Governor Evers has also stated that he would be open to exceptions to a $15.00 per hour minimum wage for rural areas and teenage workers; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee supports Governor Tony Evers’ plan to increase the minimum wage in Wisconsin in phases to $15.00 per hour, and to subsequently index the minimum wage to inflation, with exceptions for rural and teenage workers; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to the City’s delegation in the State Legislature and to Governor Evers.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB172771-2
Dana J. Zelazny
January 3, 2019