Governor Doyle Highlights Increase in Minimum Wage

Governor Doyle Highlights Increase in Minimum Wage

June 1st Increase Will Help Approximately 200,000 Hardworking Wisconsin Families

Governor Doyle today announced that the state's lowest wage workers will get a raise effective June 1, 2006 when Wisconsin's statewide minimum wage will increase from $5.70 per hour to $6.50 per hour.

"It's a great day in Wisconsin because tomorrow, Wisconsin's minimum wage will go up again - for the second time in two years," Governor Doyle said. "For hardworking families all across Wisconsin who have been squeezed by the rising costs of everything from heating their homes to the cost of prescription drugs, this increase means more money to pay the gas bill, buy groceries, or send a child to day care."

The second statewide minimum wage increase comes just two years after Governor Doyle's Minimum Wage Advisory Council recommended to increase the state's minimum wage, which had not seen an increase since 1997. The increase was scheduled to go into effect on December 1, 2004, but in September of 2004, Republican legislators blocked the wage increase from going forward. On May 11, 2005, the Governor directed the Department of Workforce Development to prepare an emergency rule and permanent rule to raise the minimum wage statewide to $5.70 effective June 1, 2005 and to $6.50 on June 1, 2006. The increases are expected to help approximately 200,000 workers across Wisconsin.

"Minimum wage workers so often work the most and earn the least," Governor Doyle said. "They struggle every day to make ends meet. I want Wisconsin to be a place where everyone who works hard and plays by the rules has the opportunity to enjoy all that our great state has to offer. By working together as state and local government, business, and labor leaders, I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish for Wisconsin's families."

For a breakdown of Wisconsin's new minimum wage rates visit http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/equal_rights_division/pdf_files/erd_9247_p_6_06.pdf

Employers with questions concerning the new minimum wage rates may contact the Equal Rights Division of the Department of Workforce Development for more information either at the Madison office (608-266-6860) or at the Milwaukee office (414-2274384) or by visiting the DWDs website at: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/.

http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=2041