Press Herald: GOP lawmakers trying to slow minimum-wage hikes

In a news release last week, the liberal-leaning Maine Center for Economic Policy said the minimum wage increase would affect about 59,000 Mainers, about one out of […]

PRESS RELEASE: 59,000 Mainers to get raises on January 1 as minimum wage rises to $10 per hour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mario Moretto mario@mecep.org (207) 620-1101 AUGUSTA, MAINE — Roughly 59,000 Mainers will receive a direct wage increase on New Year’s Day as Maine’s minimum […]

WABI Channel 5: Maine's Minimum Wage to Increase in 2018 for Second Year in a Row

The Maine Center for Economic Policy says the economic benefits of the wage hike aren’t just limited to those earning minimum wage. Read more at WABI Channel 5. […]

Testimony in Opposition to Three Bills to Alter the Minimum Wage Law Passed by Voters in November 2016

Seven states have already removed the special exemption from minimum wages known as the “tip credit” (Alaska, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Washington). Federal Earnings data show […]

Testimony in Opposition to: LD 774, 775, 778, 831, 971, 991, 1005

The potential benefits of the recent minimum wage increase could be jeopardized for workers, families, children, and seniors if the proposals to eliminate indexing or reduce minimum […]

A Higher Minimum Wage is Good for Tipped Workers

Workers who rely on tips don’t benefit from the existence of a lower tipped minimum wage. That’s the conclusion of a variety of sources that compare the earnings of workers in those states without a “tip credit” and those which maintain one.

The Tipped Minimum Wage is Unfair and Discriminatory

Imagine you’re a cashier at the height of flu season and three of your coworkers called in sick on a Saturday afternoon—one of the busiest times of the week. Lines are long, customers are grumpy, and your efforts to keep the line moving prevent you from being as personable as you would be under other circumstances. Despite circumstances beyond your control customers keep docking your pay. Through no fault of your own, and even though you’re doing more work, you’re going to get less pay at the end of the day.

More than One in Seven Working Mainers Will Receive Pay Raise Tomorrow

The voter-approved minimum wage increase takes effect tomorrow, increasing wages for 74,000 Mainers. Nearly 30,000 additional Maine workers are expected to receive a raise this year as […]

MECEP Statement in Support of Question 4

“The most accurate and up to date economic research available shows that gradual minimum wage increases have little to no effect on jobs, according to Maine Center […]

A $12 minimum wage by 2020 will lift wages for Maine women and their families (pie chart)