Michigan Democrats fight 'adopt and amend' plan that gutted sick time, minimum wage laws

LANSING, MI -- As the Michigan Supreme Court considers issuing an opinion, Michigan Democrats including Attorney General Dana Nessel, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative democrats are among those weighing in on a lame-duck maneuver where lawmakers adopted and then significantly changed a voter initiative on paid sick time.

Two initiatives led by groups of citizens sought to put the measures on the ballot last year, but instead saw the legislature adopt and alter the laws after they had gathered the signatures.

The minimum wage proposal brought tipped employees into the regular minimum wage rules and raised minimum wage to $12 by 2022. The paid sick time proposal put different requirements in place for large and small businesses, but let workers earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.

The legislature adopted the voter-initiated laws but then changed them. The minimum wage one now raises it to $12.05 by 2030, and on sick time workers will earn one hour of sick time for every 35 hours worked and can accrue less sick time than petitioners had originally proposed.

Read more: https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/06/michigan-democrats-fight-adopt-and-amend-plan-that-gutted-sick-time-minimum-wage-laws.html