Minimum wage rally Sept 15
Dozens gathered in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, to protest a bill by state Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, that would block a minimum wage increase approved by the Birmingham City Council.
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A committee in the Alabama House of Representatives today approved a bill that would block cities and counties from setting minimum wage requirements.
The State Government Committee approved the bill on a 10-3 vote after a public hearing. It goes to the House.
The Birmingham City Council approved a minimum wage that is set to go into effect on March 1.
The bill, by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, would prohibit cities and counties from requiring employers to provide employees with any benefit not required by state or federal law, including a minimum wage, unpaid or paid leave, vacation, or a work schedule.
Alabama does not have a minimum wage, so employers follow the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.
Last year, the Birmingham City Council voted to raise the minimum wage in two steps, to $8.50 in July of this year and to $10.10 in July 2017.
On Tuesday, the council voted to make the first phase take effect March 1 instead of in July.