Voters Face Minimum Wage Ballot Measures

A recent WDIV/Detroit News survey revealed that 55.8% of Michigan voters support a Michigan Supreme Court ruling deeming an 'adopt-and-amend' strategy unconstitutional, which allowed the Republican-led Legislature to weaken minimum wage and sick time laws after their initial adoption. The court ruled that while the Legislature can adopt proposed ballot initiatives, it cannot alter them in the same session. In a parallel development, Grace McGovern, a bartender in Massachusetts, is advocating for a ballot measure that would raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to $15 per hour, aligning it with the standard minimum wage. This measure faces opposition from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and some servers who fear it could increase costs and reduce overall earnings. In addition to Massachusetts, several states will vote on various wage-related measures in November, including a proposal in California to increase the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026. These upcoming votes reflect a broader discussion about wage equity and labor rights across the country.