In this March 11, 2017 photo, Stephanie Bushey, right, uses sign language and eye movements to communicate with her daughter, Katie, at their home in West Chazy, New York. Katie, who lost her vocal and motor skills at birth, relies on assistance from home health aides during the day while her mother is at work. […]
minimum wage
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Democratic lawmakers get heat for backing tipped minimum wage
Kathe Jewett, 68, a waitress at Howard Johnson’s in Bangor since it opened in 1966, speaks to patrons, works in the restaurant shortly before it closed in 2016. AUGUSTA — Eight Democrats in the Legislature are supporting proposals to restore the tipped minimum wage for servers phased out by a 2016 minimum wage referendum, drawing […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Municipalities, health care facilities brace for wage hike
AUGUSTA — Municipalities and advocacy groups for home health care and long-term care workers say they’re bracing for the impact of a minimum wage hike approved by Maine voters last fall. Leaders of the health care groups say they will continue to ask the state for increased MaineCare reimbursement rates as the minimum wage inches […]
Posted inFranklin, Livermore Falls Advertiser
Jay board raises firefighter wage to meet state minimum
JAY — Selectpersons voted Monday to bring the wages of any firefighter not making $9 an hour up to that amount for the year. They also voted to increase the minimum wage for firefighters to $10 an hour from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2018. Both changes are to comply with Maine’s new minimum-wage law […]
Posted inLetters
Fulfill the will of the people
It was gratifying to see the majority of Maine voters say “yes” to raising the minimum wage. It will be a huge help to people who work hard for very low wages. Low-wage workers will be better able to patronize small businesses, or further their education, or deal with emergencies. Teachers say it will be […]
Posted inBusiness
Maine minimum wage rises Saturday
LEWISTON — Liz McArthur is a single mom with a 3-year-old daughter, a full-time nursing student and a part-time waitress at Marco’s restaurant where, weather-depending, this time of year customers and tips can be iffy. The 27-year-old’s weekly paycheck is about to go up about $200 a month. McArthur figures she’ll have more money for […]
Posted inFranklin
Jay to discuss options on firefighter pay scale
JAY — Selectpersons will discuss the Fire Rescue Department’s pay scale at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at the Town Office. The discussion stems from an increase in the minimum wage, from $7.50 an hour to $9 per hour, effective Saturday. The wage increases to $10 per hour Jan. 1, 2018; $11 per hour Jan. […]
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn
Minimum-wage increase means more overtime pay
LEWISTON — One little-noticed provision of the minimum wage increase approved by voters last month is that it will expand the number of Maine workers eligible for overtime after they log 40 hours in a week. During the campaign, nobody paid much attention to the overtime change because officials and businesses thought a proposed federal […]
Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Local & State
State says it won’t enforce tip credit wage hike next month
AUGUSTA — In a move that critics immediately denounced, the state Department of Labor said Thursday it won’t enforce a provision against employers who don’t comply with a change in the tip credit for workers for at least the first few weeks after it takes effect on Jan. 7. It is only a temporary move […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Gov. Paul LePage eyes delay on marijuana laws
Whether Mainers will get to toke up without worrying about the police may depend on President-elect Donald Trump. Gov. Paul LePage told a Portland radio station he “will be talking to Donald Trump about it” because he’s not sure if the new administration is going to enforce a federal law prohibiting the use of marijuana. […]