January 6th, 2020 by WCBC Radio
Despite the best efforts of many local business and community leaders last year- Maryland’s minimum wage is now officially $11 an hour. The increase from $10.10 is one of the state’s new laws that took effect January 1st. The minimum wage for companies with 15 or more employees will have future increases over the next several years and reach $15 in 2025. The wage for companies with 14 or fewer employees also goes up to $11 Wednesday. Companies with 14 or fewer employees will be required to pay $15 an hour in 2026. Stu Czapski, executive director of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, helped coordinate a lobbying effort during last year’s general assembly session against the measure believing that ultimately it will be bad for Allegany County. He said that although the effort fell short, he feels the region made a statement and that their voices were heard…
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January 06, 2020 at 9:10 am, Kevin said:
Being heard and making a difference are not the same thing. The chamber has a long bias against working people so Stu’s position is neither new, or meaningful. Even in Cumberland good workers are in short supply. Sheetz has been well over $11. per hour for some time. What would motivate them to offer fair wages and benefits when they don’t legally have to?
January 06, 2020 at 9:59 am, mac said:
> The Chamber of Commerce represents business owners and, as such, will do everything in their power to maximize profits for those owners. Even to the point of keeping the workers they employ from a living wage. Those employees are nothing more than another machine to be utilized in the pursuit of those profits.
Offer the lowest pay scale, the shortest hourly work week, with little or no access to health insurance and rake in the biggest profit possible.
Don’t forget that the entire Western Maryland delegation, our elected officials, also voted against raising the minimum wage. This is the way that they represent the people of Western Maryland. Well, at least some of them.
January 06, 2020 at 10:21 am, Hank said:
Of course The Chamber of Commerce is against this. What we need is some job creation and new businesses in this area!!! Repeat we need good jobs since the 1980′s !!!!
January 06, 2020 at 5:25 pm, jim said:
There will be no job creation if companies are forced to pay a higher minimum wage. If businesses close or shorten hours there is less overall work. It’s positive for few at the expense of many. Short-sighted.
January 07, 2020 at 12:25 am, Jay said:
Anyone against raising wages needs their head examined. A salary of $11 an hour on a 40 hour work week comes to under $23 K a year and that’s before taxes. That salary does not even surpass the poverty line.