Editorial
Portland Press Herald (ME), March 17, 2015
... Seven bills attempting to change the state’s minimum wage are percolating through this legislative session. Additionally, it’s been a hot issue in cities like Portland and Bangor, where there are efforts to establish a city minimum wage by 2018 ($10.68 per hour and $9.75 per hour, respectively). ...
When Wal-Mart announced it was raising its minimum wage to $9 an hour, T.J. Maxx and other retailers followed suit within one week. Some companies established their own thresholds earlier – Whole Foods, Ikea, the Gap, Starbucks all offer minimum wages of $9 per hour or more. Here in Maine, Adam Lee, owner of Lee Auto Malls, contacted me last spring to say his company was adopting a $10-per-hour minimum wage. Jim Wellehan, owner of Lamey-Wellehan shoe stores, has always paid well above minimum wage, with new employees now earning $10 per hour.
Perhaps lawmakers will reach a consensus on Maine’s minimum wage this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if – encouraged by Wal-Mart and others – they defer this to the private sector. ...
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