{"articles":[{"reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#624960","stance":"yes"},{"text":"Maybe","color":"#edb723","stance":"maybe"},{"text":"No","color":"#4ac6ec","stance":"no"}],"id":46495,"title":"Florida Voters Approved Gradually Raising the Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour by 2026","html_content":"

by The 2020 Causes Voter Center | 11.12.20

Florida voters approved Amendment 2, a mandate to raise the Florida state minimum wage to $15/hour by September 2026, by a 60.82% to 39.18% margin last week. The current minimum wage is $8.56/hour.

Florida for a Fair Wage led the campaign in support of Amendment 2 and argued that raising the minimum wage will give more workers a living wage and reduce their reliance on government aid:

“Florida needs to pass the Fair Wage Amendment to ensure that all hard-working Floridians can receive a living wage. The 'living wage' is the minimum cost that covers the basic needs of an individual and the needs of their family without government assistance.”

Opponents of Amendment 2 contend that it will kill small businesses and raise operating costs for businesses of all types, causing them to lay off workers or cut their hours. The National Restaurant Association and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, who were among the top donors to the Save Florida Jobs, Inc. campaign against this measure, were among the organizations that made this claim. Carol Dover, CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, said:

“An increase like this would have disastrous impacts on businesses and individuals alike. Business owners will be forced to find solutions to control costs... the most obvious solutions include reducing the number of employees, reducing the number of hours remaining employees work, and seeking labor alternatives like automation.\"

Before this year, Florida last voted on a minimum wage ballot measure in 2004. That amendment, Florida Amendment 5, was approved by a 71% to 28% vote. It provided for a $6.15/hour minimum wage set to increase each year based on changes in the CPI-W.

Prior to the 2020 election, seven states had passed bills phasing in $15 minimum wages over varying periods.

What does Amendment 2 do?

Amendment 2 will incrementally increase Florida’s state minimum wage from 2020 through 2026. The state minimum wage will increase from its current rate of $8.56 per hour this year to each of the following in 2021 through 2026:

$10/hour beginning on September 30, 2021;
$11/hour beginning on September 30, 2022;
$12/hour beginning on September 30, 2023;
$13/hour beginning on September 30, 2024;
$14/hour beginning on September 30, 2025; and
$15/hour beginning on September 30, 2026.

After 2026, there will be an annual adjustment to the state minimum wage based on increases to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) beginning on September 30, 2027.

—Lorelei Yang

(Image Credit: iStockphoto.com / ABEMOS)

Media:

\nFlorida for a Fair Wage (In Favor)
\nFlorida Restaurant & Lodging Association (Opposed)
Miami Herald

","image_urls":{"large":"https://ul.causes.com/ul/q_auto/uploads/NZaEe7vZ/ef4238/iStock-1141559946.jpg","medium":"https://ul.causes.com/ul/q_auto/uploads/NZaEe7vZ/ef4238/iStock-1141559946.jpg","small":"https://ul.causes.com/ul/q_auto/uploads/NZaEe7vZ/ef4238/iStock-1141559946.jpg","thumb":"https://ul.causes.com/ul/q_auto/uploads/NZaEe7vZ/ef4238/iStock-1141559946.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.causes.com/ul/q_auto/uploads/NZaEe7vZ/ef4238/iStock-1141559946.jpg"},"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/articles/46495-florida-voters-approved-gradually-raising-minimum-wage-15-hour-2026","article_comments":"https://www.causes.com/api/articles/46495-florida-voters-approved-gradually-raising-minimum-wage-15-hour-2026/comments"},"comment_count":164,"action_count":1117,"cta_prompt":"Do you agree with raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026?","cta_type":"reactions","share_count":9,"published_at":"2020-11-12T21:12:51.281Z","is_countable_article":true,"allow_advocacy":true,"profile_id":26,"signed":false,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signable_progress":0,"video_url":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_aspect_ratio":null}],"users":[{"name":"Sandra","vote_count":27,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/1504384283/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/1504384283/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/1504384283/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/1504384283/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/LWgr12n9/following","followers":"/api/users/LWgr12n9/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":60,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":4,"following_count":0,"position_count":10,"id":"LWgr12n9","partner_id":null}],"article_comment":{"flagged":false,"id":1376485,"body":"people who make more money have more to spend which drives the economy. by the time $15/hr is finally implemented will it still be enough?","parent_type":"Article","parent_id":46495,"created_at":"2020-11-16T22:31:11.651Z","liked":false,"like_count":0,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/comments/1376485","likers":"https://www.causes.com/api/v1/likers?likeable_id=1376485&likeable_type=Comment"},"article_id":46495,"shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/comments/1376485.png","note":{"text":"Yes","color":"#624960","stance":"yes"},"note_text":"Yes","note_color":"#624960","user_id":"LWgr12n9","liker_ids":[]}}

Like Causes?

Comment Liked by 0 Users