THE COASTAL PACKET: Portland doing fine after minimum wage hike

Wednesday, May 11

Portland doing fine after minimum wage hike

A new investigation and series of interviews published in the Christian Science Monitor by reporter Simon Montlake indicates that the minimum wage increase this year in Portland, Maine has helped low-wage workers to make ends meet and hasn’t had the negative effects on businesses predicted by opponents of raising the minimum wage.

“So far, Portland’s $10.10 wage hasn’t killed jobs,” reports the Monitor. “Portland’s economy is booming and unemployment is below 3 percent. Even Greg Dugal, a prominent lobbyist for restaurant and hotel owners, admits that ‘the sky has not fallen.'”

Also included in the article are anecdotal reports of small businesses in Portland seeing more applicants with higher levels of experience, as well as increased pressure on businesses in surrounding communities to also increase their wages. - Beacon

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