minimum wage

Broadening The Discussion: Is Raising The Minimum Wage A Good Idea?

Alex Heuer, Mary Edwards and Don Marsh — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:04:50 +0000

Hundreds of thousands of American workers are paid the minimum wage. It’s $7.25 nationally and $7.35 in St. Louis. While the perception may be that minimum and low wage jobs are mostly held by teens, the vast majority, 75 percent, are adults over the age of 20.

Recent local news reports have highlighted protests by minimum wage earners. They are demanding that their pay be nearly doubled. The campaign is called “St. Louis Can’t Survive on $7.35.”

St. Louis Jimmy John's Workers Stage Walk-Out For Higher Wages

Maria Altman — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:52:50 +0000

Employees at a Jimmy John’s franchise in St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood staged a walk-out today.

The workers are seeking $15 an hour, rather than the $7.35 minimum they currently make.

In a statement, workers also complained of being publicly disciplined for trivial incidents and forced to wear signs.

Shamniqua Clark says it was the right decision for her to take part in the walk-out.

A 77-Hour Work Week: What It Takes To Rent A Two-Bedroom Apartment In Missouri

Kelsey Proud — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:58:13 +0000

Updated 4:04 p.m.

Mo. Minimum Wage Increasing - But Is It A Good Thing?

The Associated Press and Kelsey Proud — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:05:38 +0000

Missouri's minimum wage will rise by a dime to $7.35 an hour in 2013.

For the past several years, Missouri has followed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. That's because the federal rate was equal to or greater than the state's minimum, which is adjusted annually based on the cost of living.

But inflation has now pushed Missouri's minimum wage above the federal standard. The new wage is posted on the website of the state labor department.

Morning headlines: Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Julie Bierach, The Associated Press and Illinois Public Radio — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:28:19 +0000

Legal fight between Quinn and Union continues

The legal fight between Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and the union that represents prisons workers continues this week.

Quinn had wanted the prisons closed by last Friday. Instead that day an arbitrator said the administration violated its contract with the prison workers' union by moving to close the facilities before they'd finished what's called "impact bargaining."

Union spokesman Anders Lindall says impact bargaining doesn't only affect employees facing layoffs.