Michigan’s Strongly Supported $15 Minimum Wage Hike Faces Hurdles, Barred from November Ballot

By Moon Harper

Jun 07, 2024 12:42 AM EDT

Michigan's minimum wage proposal, an increase from $10.33 to $15 per hour, has been debated in the state for over ten years.

The Blockage of Wage Hike From November Ballot

A survey conducted by the nonprofit organization, One Fair Wage in Michigan, backs this up, revealing that residents of Michigan have consistently favored raising the minimum wage for all workers over the past several election cycles.

However, efforts to raise Michigan's minimum wage faced a major setback when the state's Supreme Court barred the $15 minimum wage initiative from the November ballot. This ruling came after the Board of State Canvassers failed to reach a consensus, leading to uncertainty over the proposal due to alterations in the petition's language after its initial approval.

The initiative, led by Raise the Wage Michigan, amassed over 300,000 signatures, as reported by CBS News Detroit. However, discrepancies in the petition's language from its initial approval resulted in disqualification. Despite efforts to reverse this decision through the state's highest court, campaigners and advocates for a significant minimum wage increase were disheartened.

Implication of The Wage Hike to Businesses

Joey Gamrat, owner of The Grazing Table in downtown Kalamazoo, takes a neutral stance, noting that many of his employees already earn more than $15 per hour.

In businesses where employees heavily depend on tips, such as local eateries like The Grazing Table, there's a strong push for the $15 wage hike. Gamrat acknowledges the benefits of more money in employees' pockets, but for businesses that have structured their plans around specific payroll costs, a sudden increase to $15 could pose difficulties.

Waitresses in downtown Kalamazoo also express their desire for extra income but raise concerns about potential changes in tipping behavior among customers, thinking they do not need the money anymore. Kalamazoo resident David Wolf and his wife, Melody, express mixed feelings about the potential wage increase. While they acknowledge its benefits for employees, they worry about potential job losses and increased customer costs.

One Fair Wage's Advocacy

One Fair Wage advocates for Michigan's $15 minimum wage, citing the state's strong support for the initiative. Despite a recent setback when the Michigan Supreme Court denied their motion, they are striving to include the matter on the November election ballot this year.

Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage, attributes the Republicans' resistance to fear, suggesting their reluctance stems from the anticipated defeat and the potential to mobilize hundreds of thousands of Democratic-leaning voters to the polls.

A spokesperson for the Michigan House of Representatives informed News Channel 3 that the motion to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour was denied due to inaccuracies in the petition's language. The State Board of Canvassers, responsible for certifying elections for all legislative districts across county lines and all judicial offices, reached a 2 to 2 deadlock on votes.