Political and Legislative
21 States Raise the Minimum Wage
Millions of low-wage workers are starting the new year with a pay increase as new laws take effect in dozens of states and cities across the country.
Minimum wages rose in 21 states and 35 cities and counties at the new year, according to the National Employment Law Project (NELP). Two of those states — California and New York — increased the minimum wage to $15 an hour for employees of large corporations.
The number of states raising minimum wages this year is higher than any previous year. The hikes come a decade after fast food workers went on strike across the nation, kicking off a campaign to increase wages to at least $15 an hour.
