70,000 Rhode Islanders will enjoy a small increase in their paychecks this week as the minimum wage rises from $11.50 to $12.25 an hour. Legislation passed last session by the Rhode Island General Assembly will gradually raise the minimum wage in the state until it reaches $15 on January 1, 2025. This places Rhode Island workers $2 behind those in Massachusetts, who, starting on January 1 began making $14.25 an hour, and Connecticut, where the current $13 minimum wage is on track to rise to $15 by June 1, 2023.
Minimum wage municipal workers in Barrington, Rhode Island, however, will get to $15 faster much faster, thanks to a new policy approved by the Barrington Town Council at its December 6th meeting.
State law passed during the regime of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello prevents municipalities from raising the minimum wage within their borders. But the state cannot prevent individual cities and towns from establishing their own labor and payment policies. So Barrington municipal leaders are free to pay their employees above minimum wage if they so choose.
From a press release:
Councilmembers Jacob Brier and Carl Kustell presented the Council with a proposal to raise the minimum wage for town employees from the state minimum $12.25/hr to $15 per hour. Before passing with a 4-1 vote, Council members, Town officials, and one member of the public weighed in during a thoughtful debate, voicing both support and opposition.
All members of the Council expressed support for...
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