Earlier this month, Birmingham became the first city southern city to approve a local minimum wage. Their approved local minimum wage is $10.10, more than the national minimum wage of $7.25. However, this decision has caused more tension than excitement.
In response to Birmingham’s minimum wage increase, the Alabama Legislature met to discuss how to oppose this raise. The state is now planning to pass a bill that would prevent cities from setting their own minimum wage.
The intended purpose of Alabama’s bill is to keep the minimum wage consistent throughout the state, but some believe it is because the state doesn’t really care about its citizens.
Birmingham’s predominantly liberal inhabitants are still trying to fight to pass their $10.10 minimum wage, but some feel that the city will ultimately lose and be restricted by the state’s conservative Legislature.
Questions:
Do you think states have the power to control a city’s minimum wage?
Should the federal government intervene in this dispute?
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