Kansas City Vote Sends State a Message on Living Wages

Despite Missouri ban, city passes $10 minimum wage. 

(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

This is your first of three free stories this month. Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks.

Become A Member

A Missouri law banning cities from setting their own minimum wage floors will take effect later this month, but that didn’t stop Kansas City voters from supporting a measure to raise the city’s minimum wage at the polls on Tuesday.

Sixty-nine percent of voters approved a measure calling to raise the minimum to $10 an hour, the Kansas City Star reports. The measure outlined a plan for annual increases of $1.25 an hour beginning in 2019, until the minimum wage reaches $15 an hour in 2022.

But the vote’s immediate effect will be largely “symbolic” because of the state law. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens didn’t sign the bill, but opted not to veto it, allowing it to become law without his signature.

Across the state, a group of St. Louis businesses vowed earlier this week to ignore the new state ruling, however, and will continue paying workers at least $10 an hour, rather than the Missouri standard of $7.70. St. Louis’ $10-an-hour law took effect in May, and was set to rise to $11 an hour at the beginning of 2018.

The Kansas City measure was backed by a group of faith, labor and economic justice groups, according to the Star. While residents were casting votes on Tuesday, another local group stood on the steps of City Hall to launch a separate campaign aimed at the state law. Its goal is to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.70 an hour to $12 by 2023 by winning a statewide public vote in 2018.

Going forward, The Kansas City Law Department needs to decide whether it will take legal action against the state. The Star reports that it’s more like that the city and Mayor Sly James will support the statewide petition.

Like what you’re reading? Get a browser notification whenever we post a new story. You’re signed-up for browser notifications of new stories. No longer want to be notified? Unsubscribe.

Rachel Dovey is an award-winning freelance writer and former USC Annenberg fellow living at the northern tip of California’s Bay Area. She writes about infrastructure, water and climate change and has been published by Bust, Wired, Paste, SF Weekly, the East Bay Express and the North Bay Bohemian

Follow Rachel .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tags: minimum wagekansas city

×
Next City App Never Miss A StoryDownload our app ×
×

You've reached your monthly limit of three free stories.

This is not a paywall. Become a free or sustaining member to continue reading.

  • Read unlimited stories each month
  • Our email newsletter
  • Webinars and ebooks in one click
  • Our Solutions of the Year magazine
  • Support solutions journalism and preserve access to all readers who work to liberate cities

Join 1096 other sustainers such as:

  • Gabby at $5/Month
  • Abigail at $10/Month
  • Gloria at $5/Month

Already a member? Log in here. U.S. donations are tax-deductible minus the value of thank-you gifts. Questions? Learn more about our membership options.

or pay by credit card:

All members are automatically signed-up to our email newsletter. You can unsubscribe with one-click at any time.

  • Donate $20 or $5/Month

    20th Anniversary Solutions of the Year magazine

has donated ! Thank you 🎉
Donate
×