UFCW Local 400 and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO pictured with leader of the minimum wage legislation, Montgomery County Council member, Marc Elrich. Photo by Karlyn Williams.
Montgomery County political, labor and community allies gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the start of Montgomery County’s new minimum wage, which goes into effect that day. The group, which came together earlier this year to support the regional effort to raise the minimum wage convened at the National Labor College in Silver Spring to raise awareness about the new increases.
Last fall, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the District of Columbia agreed to coordinate their efforts toward establishing increased minimum wage laws in a region-wide effort. Each jurisdiction adopted legislation toward meeting that goal. Montgomery County, which previously followed the State minimum wage, established a new County minimum wage law that takes a graduated approach. In its first phase, the County minimum wage will increase from the state minimum of $7.25 per hour to the new County minimum of $8.40 per hour. This increase will result in approximately $2,400 more in gross pay per individual each year based on a 40-hour work week at the minimum wage. The law applies to work performed in the County for all private sector employers with two or more employees working in the County. The individuals who are most likely to benefit from the wage increase include food service workers, housekeepers and cashiers.
“Montgomery County workers will see an increase in the minimum wage to $11.50, to be phased in over four years, starting with an increase to $8.40 today,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “I believe that a higher minimum wage for Montgomery County is justified, given the higher cost of living in the County as compared to the rest of the State. I commend all the Councilmembers who voted for this law and especially Councilmember Marc Elrich for his leadership.”
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Edited and modified from Union City’s Wednesday morning report.