Ohio Chamber of Commerce Rejects $15 Minimum Wage Proposal, Citing Increased Labor Costs

By Thea Felicity

Jul 05 2024, 13:09 PM EDT

Stores In And Around Columbus, Ohio Begin Process Of Reopening For Business — A customer walks past shuttered shops in Polaris Fashion Place mall which reopened for the first time since Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's shut down of all non-essential businesses in mid March amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 12, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

According to organizers of the campaign to AP News, efforts to place a proposal on the ballofailedhio's minimum wage to $15 per hour have fallen short of campaign organizers, who spoke signatures.

The initiative, spearheaded by the national campaign One Fair Wage, required over 413,000 valid signatures across Ohio to qualify for the ballot this year. Despite a deadline on Wednesday, July 3, backers acknowledged they did not meet the required threshold and now plan to refocus their efforts for a potential vote in 2025.

Ohio Minimum Wage

The proposed increase sought to raise Ohio's current minimum wage of $10.45 to $12.75 in its first year and then to $15 per hour the following year.

Additionally, the plan aimed to include annual adjustments for inflation after that.

Supporters argued that such a wage hike was necessary to provide a living wage for workers in Ohio, aligning with efforts seen in other states across the country.

However, opposition from business groups, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and local restaurant and bar owners aired these objections.

These groups expressed concerns over the potential economic impacts of such a wage increase, particularly on small businesses already navigating post-pandemic recovery and inflationary pressures.

While the issue will not appear on this year's ballot, the initiative's proponents remain committed to mobilizing support and gathering the necessary signatures for a future vote.

What Is the Minimum Pay Per Hour in the US?

According to the US Department of Labor, the federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees in the United States is $7.25 per hour, with states imposing their own wage laws. The highest minimum wage rate is $17.50 per hour, applicable in the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), while the lowest minimum wage rate is $5.15 per hour in Wyoming.

US employees are entitled to higher state or federal minimum wages, where both apply.

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