Alabama-passes law forbidding raises in min. wage

"Alabama’s governor and legislature Thursday blocked Birmingham’s attempts to raise the city’s minimum wage as they swiftly approved legislation to strip cities of their ability to set hourly pay requirements.

The Alabama senate passed the legislation on a 23-11 vote that largely broke along party lines. Governor Robert Bentley signed the bill into law about an hour later. The legislation voids a Birmingham city ordinance attempting to raise the city’s minimum wage to $10.10, the city’s legal department said Thursday afternoon."

Their line of reasoning (oxymoron alert) is that any patchwork raise - a few cents more here or there - will cripple growth throughout the state. So-- best to put that idea down. Wouldn't want the $7.25 an hour worker throwing down their broom to go work at another place for $8 an hour. Why, that would be chaotic now wouldn't it?

Ever since those Southern states had to start paying their former slaves wages, they've been struggling (sarcasm) with that issue of a living wage.


http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/26/alabama-passes-law-banning-minimum-wage-increase