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Saltsman, Michael. $15 An Hour: Pain, Not a Gain, For Chicago. Chicago Tribune. June 5, 2014.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-06-05/opinion/ct-perspec-fifteen-against-0605-20140605_1_wage-hikeminimum-wage-chicago-aldermen
April 9, 2015
| Yankee Institute for Public Policy | 2
Many
of
the
private
businesses
affected
by
this
legislation
operate
with
very
slim
profit
margins,
so
they
have
little
incentive
to
absorb
the
fines
without
raising
prices.
Target,
for
example,
had
a
less
than
3
percent
profit
margin
in
2014.
There
are
other
large
employers
in
this
state
who
have
many
employees
who
are
paid
the
minimum
wage,
but
because
they
are
publicly
funded
they
will
not
be
taxed
under
these
bills.
For
example,
UConn
pays
some
of
its
employees
the
current
minimum
wage,
according
to
job
postings.
Cities
and
towns
also
pay
many
employees
the
minimum
wage,
including
lifeguards
and
after
school
childcare
providers.
The
legislations
supporters
need
to
explain
the
difference
in
treatment.
After
all,
many
of
the
young
workers
who
earn
minimum
wage
from
private
companies
are
also
attending
school.
Lots
of
families
collect
a
second
income
through
part-time
work
in
the
retail
or
hospitality
industries.
Why
single
them
and
their
employers
out
for
a
penalty?
This
bill
also
exposes
the
state
to
legal
risks.
Counting
the
employees
of
different
franchises
as
members
of
a
single
group
has
broad
implications
in
both
contract
and
constitutional
law
and
could
lead
to
time-
consuming,
expensive
-
or
even
successful
-
challenges
in
court.
Guppy, Paul. Seattles $15 wage law a factor in restaurant closings. Washington Policy Center, March 11, 2015.
http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/seattles-15-wage-law-factor-restaurant-closings
3
Swan,
Rachel.
Oakland
minimum-wage
hike
puts
child
caregivers
in
a
jam.
San
Francisco
Chronicle,
March
15,
2015.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-minimum-wage-hike-puts-child-caregivers-
6135815.php
4
Swan,
Rachel.
Minimum
wage
hike
hurts
Oakland
Chinatown.
San
Francisco
Chronicle,
March
13,
2015.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Minimum-wage-hike-hurts-Oakland-Chinatown-6133798.php
3 | Yankee Institute for Public Policy | April 9, 2015
www.YankeeInstitute.org
This
legislation
threatens
to
yank
away
that
ladder
of
opportunity.
Fewer
of
these
entry-level
jobs
are
available
as
the
minimum
wage
goes
up.
Two
professors
from
University
of
California
San
Diego
released
a
peer-reviewed
study
in
November
affirming
what
other
researchers
have
been
saying
for
years
as
the
minimum
wage
increases,
the
number
of
jobs
falls.5
Depending
on
the
strength
of
the
larger
U.S.
job
market,
Connecticut
may
still
see
job
growth
in
the
sectors
most
affected
by
this
legislation.
However,
if
these
bills
are
passed,
Connecticut
would
likely
lag
behind
where
it
would
have
otherwise
been
in
job
growth..
A
FULL
EMPLOYMENT
PLAN
FOR
ROBOTS
As
wages
are
pushed
higher,
industries
that
must
keep
prices
low
to
attract
consumers
will
find
ways
to
automate
jobs.
How
long
will
it
be
before
we
see
iPads
at
dining
room
tables
instead
of
servers?
Or
self-
checkout
kiosks
at
McDonalds
drive-thru
windows?
McDonalds
in
Europe
has
already
bought
7,000
touchscreen
terminals
for
its
fast-food
restaurants
in
an
effort
to
partly
replace
cashiers
a
sign
of
things
to
come
in
Connecticut
if
labor
costs
keep
rising.
6
There
is
a
better
way.
Of
course
it
is
not
ideal
for
a
person
to
try
to
support
his
or
her
family
on
a
minimum
wage
salary.
But
rather
than
punitive
measures
designed
to
punish
job-creators,
we
should
work
to
create
a
state
business
climate
that
is
conducive
to
the
creation
of
more
jobs.
It
makes
more
sense
to
provide
education
and
training
that
will
prepare
low-income
employees
to
advance
their
careers.
What
is
best
for
all
of
Connecticuts
residents
is
a
state
that
has
a
thriving
and
robust
economy.
This
will
give
employees
at
every
level
on
the
pay
scale
greater
mobility.
These
two
bills
will
only
further
exacerbate
Connecticuts
economic
troubles.
Clemons,
Jeffrey
and
Michael
Wither.
The
Minimum
Wage
and
the
Great
Recession:
Evidence
of
Effects
on
the
Employment
and
Income
Trajectories
of
Low-Skilled
Workers.
Working
paper
released
Nov.
24,
2014.
http://econweb.ucsd.edu/~mwither/pdfs/Effects%20of%20Min%20Wage%20on%20Wages%20Employme
nt%20and%20Earnings.pdf
6
Economic Policy Journal. Battling Higher Minimum Wages. May 15, 2014.
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2014/05/battling-higher-minimum-wages-mcdonalds.html
April 9, 2015
| Yankee Institute for Public Policy | 4
SB
1044/File
No.
344
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-
-
-
-
-
Occupations
with
over
500
employees
whose
average
hourly
salary
wage
is
below
$15
an
hour
in
Connecticut:
(from
the
Bureau
of
Labor
Statistics)
Florists
Recreation
Workers
Freight
Laborers
Drivers
File
Clerks
Bank
Tellers
Taxi
Drivers
Janitors
Security
Guards
Occupational
Therapy
Aides
Veterinary
Assistants
Substitute
Teachers
Library
Assistants
Farm,
fish
and
forestry
occupations
5 | Yankee Institute for Public Policy | April 9, 2015
www.YankeeInstitute.org
Hairdressers
Personal
Care
Attendants
Production
Workers
Home
Health
Aides
Packagers
Office
and
Administrative
Support
Staff
Food
Servers
Stock
Clerks
Retail
Salespersons
Cooks
Bakers
Personal
Care
Aides
Laundry/Dry-cleaning
workers
Maids
and
Housekeepers
Food
Preparation
and
Servers
Parking
Lot
Attendants
Hotel
Desk
Clerks
Lifeguards
Childcare
Workers
Bartenders
Cashiers
Dishwashers
Hostesses
Ushers