The Florida Minimum Wage will increase by 6 cents effective June 1, 2011. Florida law requires that the Agency for Workforce Innovation calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate each year. The annual calculation is based on the percentage change in the federal Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers in the South Region for the 12-month period of each year prior to September 1.
On January 1st, seven states with minimum wage laws, like that of Florida, providing for wage rate increases based on inflation, raised their minimum wages to keep pace with inflation. The State of Florida did not. Subsequently a lawsuit was filed challenging that decision. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs charged that the State had used an erroneous formula in calculating annual adjustments in the minimum wage, instead of using the method required by the Florida Constitution. A circuit court judge, Terry Lewis, agreed with the plaintiffs’ position and ordered the 6 cent increase, effective June 1.
The seven states with minimum wage increases for 2011 included Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington State. The increases were automatic adjustments for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. Specifically, the minimum wage increased by 10 cents to $7.35 in Arizona, 12 cents to $7.36 in Colorado, 10 cents to $7.35 in Montana, 10 cents to $7.40 in Ohio, 10 cents to $8.50 in Oregon, nine cents to $8.15 in Vermont, and 12 cents to $8.67 in Washington State. The City of San Francisco’s minimum wage rate also increased to $9.92.
Again this year there are legislative bills pending in the Florida 2011 Session addressing amendments to the state minimum wage, to include providing adjustments, calculation adjustments applicable to State and federal rates and conforming cross-references. Florida’s 113th Regular Legislative Session adjourns’ Friday May 6, 2011 and the governor has until July 6th to sign or veto bills.
Customers can comply with the mandatory labor law update by purchasing the Florida Minimum Wage Peel ‘N Post (only for Florida posters dated 1/2011) or the revised Florida 6/2011 State & Federal All-On-One Poster.