The Utah state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the state law authorizes the adoption of the Federal minimum wage rate of $5.15 per hour via administrative action. The State law however, excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
Each year Senator Ed Mayne, who is also the president of the Utah AFL-CIO, introduces a bill to increase the minimum wage. This year’s bill requested to increase Utah’s minimum wage law to $6.50 per hour. The bill failed on a 4-3 vote in February 2006 in the Workforce Services Committee.
In March of 2006 the Utah House introduced HB 313 to raise the minimum wage in Utah to $7.00 per hour which is $1.85 per hour higher than the federal minimum wage. This bill was also defeated.
However, in August 2006 the Salt Lake County democrats once again called for a 2006 ballot referendum that would set a statewide minimum wage of $7.00 per hour. The issue got the full support of attendees at the Democrat’s annual county convention as well as organized labor groups and anti-poverty organizations. The Hispanic caucus also supported the measure by stating in a resolution that minorities are typically disproportionately paid the minimum wage. But more endorsements are needed by state religious leaders, the public and of course legislators.
In order to get the issue on the 2006 ballot in Utah, two-thirds of both houses and state legislature would need to approve the issue. But it seems to be tough going in Utah’s legislative branch to come to a consensus on raising the minimum wage. The final vote for a Utah minimum wage law may just need to go to Utah voters for a majority vote. At the present time no ballot or referendum has been proposed for the state of Utah.
