Louis Judge Nixes Minimum Wage Hike

A Missouri judge on Wednesday struck down a planned increase in the city of St. Louis’ minimum wage that was challenged by a state chamber of commerce, retail and restaurant associations, and other business groups.

Judge Steven Ohmer has ruled the ordnance void. $11 in 2018 isn’t enough for me, it won’t get me out of the boarding house I now live in, and it’s not even close to what the work I do at McDonald’s is worth. The initial increase would have set the wage at $8.25. It would have risen incrementally to $11 per hour on January 1, 2018. “The city doesn’t have the authority to do what it did”.

City Council member Winston Calvert said the city would appeal the ruling.

The judge’s order blocked the city from instituting the increase, meaning minimum wage workers in the city will not see an increase unless an appeals court reverses Ohmer’s decision – which could take months.

Mayor Francis Slay was a vocal supporter of the law and pressed aldermen to pass it before a perceived state deadline. Fifty-two-year-old Frances Holmes, a McDonald’s worker had this to say: “Judge Ohmer’s decision is truly disappointing, as it shows a complete disregard for what workers like me need to get by in St Louis”. “No local government has ever had the authority to issue an ordinance that directly violates state law”.

East St. Louis, Illinois (KTRS) Talks are expected resume today in the East St. Louis teachers’ strike.

The Board of Alderman approved the increase in August.

“We’ve always known these issues would be resolved by the appellate courts”, Calvert said.