“The result, if nothing is done, will be that Ohio’s constitutional requirement of a minimum wage will not be enforced by the state,” said Policy Matters Ohio, a watchdog organization that called attention to the problem this week.
Ohio voters in 2006 adopted the amendment establishing the minimum wage. It says that the state shall promptly investigate and resolve such complaints.
Early this year, Strickland had proposed $2.1 million in funding for the enforcement in each of the two budget years, but that was cut to $1.4 million for the year that began July 1, 2009, and zero for the following year in light of the economic downturn and falling tax revenues that forced budget cutbacks, said Maggie Ostrowski, spokeswoman for Republican leadership in the Ohio Senate. It is up to Strickland to take the lead in correcting the problem, she said.
Ohio’s minimum wage of $7.30 an hour is five cents higher than the federally required hourly minimum of $7.25. Ohio also has a higher minimum base wage for employees who receive tips, $3.65 an hour, compared with the federal minimum of $2.13.
The Dayton-Miami Valley AFL-CIO Regional Labor Council wants to see Ohio restore the enforcement funding for next year, said Wes Wells, the council’s executive director.
If the state lacks money for the enforcement, it may be time for lawmakers to examine whether Ohio needs a minimum-wage law, or should instead allow market competition to establish wages, said Chris Kershner, vice president for public policy and economic development with the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We believe the marketplace should decide what employees are paid,” Kershner said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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