Democrats, Republicans spar over $15 minimum wage for Oakland County workers
Michigan's richest county could certainly afford to pay every county worker at least $15 per hour — and doing so would nudge a $15 minimum wage toward statewide passage in Michigan, say some of Oakland County's top Democrats.
That announcement this week raised a howl of protest from their Republican counterparts, who said only a few dozen county employees make less than $15 and most get automatic raises after a year to beat the $15 threshold.
The contention between Oakland County's Democrats seeking change versus Republicans clinging to their record of fiscal success is starting to crack the cozy bond that formerly kept the two sides unified in bipartisan votes.
On Wednesday, County Commissioner Angela Powell, D-Pontiac, announced her plan to require a $15 minimum wage for all full-time workers employed by Oakland County. Powell, in her announcement at the county offices in Pontiac, got immediate support from Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman David Woodward, D-Royal Oak.
Read more: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2019/05/09/minimum-wage-democrats-republicans/1149418001/
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