March 29, 2006 – Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation to increase Michigan’s minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.95 an hour starting in October. The legislation calls for the minimum wage to increase further to $7.15 in July 2007 and to $7.40 in July 2008.
The substantial increase in Michigan’s minimum wage is a victory for working families and a clear sign of the power state governors have to impact the lives of American families.
Although seventeen states and the District of Columbia have minimum wages higher than the federal minimum wage, the Bush administration continues to reject appeals to boost the national minimum wage. The drive to boost Michigan’s minimum wage was led by a coalition of labor unions, the Michigan Democratic Party and other advocacy groups.