Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Maryland Passes First Ever State Living-Wage Act
My good neighbors in Maryland are really going all out in being the first in the nation in passing ground breaking progressive legislation. From the AFL-CIO Blog:
"Maryland today became the first state to require contractors to pay workers a living wage, the fruit of a months-long coalition campaign that included union members, religious leaders and civil rights advocates.
On its last day in session, the Maryland Senate voted, 31–16, to approve the measure, which was passed by the state House last week. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), who campaigned for the legislation, has promised to sign the bill.
The new law will require service contractors doing business with the state to pay employees $11.30 an hour in urban areas and $8.50 an hour in rural areas. The state’s minimum wage is $6.15 an hour."
Last year, the Free-Line state passed the first real law reining in Wal-Mart; requiring the mega-corporation to boost its spending on employee health care.
Labels: living wage, Maryland
# posted by Gang of One @ 12:28 PM 
