MIAMI – Dozens of people protested Tuesday morning outside a Miami McDonald's as part of a national fight for higher wages.
Strikes, rallies and marches are planned across the country for a national day of action. According to a news release from organizers, workers from various industries, including fast-food restaurants and nursing homes, will gather to make demands to elected leaders.
Recommended Videos
The "Fight for $15" movement is attempting to convince state lawmakers to support state Senate Bill 6 and House Bill 109 to raise Florida's minimum wage to $15 per hour.
More than a dozen events are planned across Florida.
Seattle has just approved the highest minimum wage in the country at $15 an hour. The increase will take place over several years based on a scale that considers the size of and benefits offered by an employer. It will apply first to many large businesses in 2017 and then to all businesses by 2021. Washington already has the nation's highest state-level minimum wage.The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour.Here's a look at the 10 states with the highest minimum wages as of the end of 2013:8. (tie) California -- $8/hourCalifornia's minimum wage increased by 50 cents to $8 an hour in 2008. Under a new law enacted in September 2013, the hourly rate will increase to $9 on July 1, 2014, and to $10 on Jan. 1, 2016.8. (tie) Colorado -- $8/hourColorado's minimum wage rose by 22 cents beginning in January 2014, the fourth consecutive year of minimum wage increases.8. (tie) Massachusetts -- $8/hourMassachusetts has had a minimum wage of $8 an hour since 2008. With time-and-a-half on Sundays (for retail workers only), the Sunday minimum wage is $12 an hour.8. (tie) New York -- $8/hourThe minimum wage in New York jumped to $8 an hour from $7.25 an hour in 2014, and is set to increasein stages to $9 an hour over the next three years.8. (tie) Rhode Island -- $8/hourNearly 10,000 Rhode Islanders got an automatic raise beginning in 2014, when the state increased its minimum wage to $8 an hour.5. (tie) Illinois -- $8.25/hourIllinois' minimum wage has historically increased along with the federal rate, until 2004, when the state's wage was raised to $5.50 per hour, ahead of the national rate.5. Nevada (tie) -- $8.25/hourNevada's minimum wage is $8.25 per hour for those without employer-provided health insurance. For those with insurance, it is $7.25 -- the same as the federal rate.5. (tie) New Jersey -- $8.25/hourNew Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question in November that raised the minimum wagefrom $7.25 to $8.25 an hour in 2014 and amended the state Constitution to tie future increases to inflation.4. Connecticut -- $8.70/hourWith a median household income of $66,452 in 2010, Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states in the country, and its minimum wage reflects that.3. Vermont -- $8.73/hourVermont's minimum wage increases at the same rate as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the preceding year, meaning an increase to $8.60 per hour in 2013.2. Oregon -- $9.10/hourOregon's minimum wage increased by 30 cents in 2012, which was three times as much as it has increased between 2010 and 2011, and then rose again to $8.95 in 2013. It jumped another 15 cents in 2014.1. Washington -- $9.32/hourWashington became the first state to pay minimum wage workers more than $9 an hour in 2012, when its minimum wage went up by 37 cents an hour.
Seattle has just approved the highest minimum wage in the country at $15 an hour. The increase will take place over several years based on a scale that considers the size of and benefits offered by an employer. It will apply first to many large businesses in 2017 and then to all businesses by 2021. Washington already has the nation's highest state-level minimum wage.
Copyright 2015 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
