© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News
To contact us with news tips, story ideas or other related information, e-mail newsstaff@ideastream.org.

Kasich Signs Bill Banning Local Minimum Wage Hikes

Members of Raise Up Cleveland at Cleveland City Hall on August 11. [Matt Richmond / ideastream]
Members of Raise Up Cleveland at Cleveland City Hall on August 11.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed a bill preventing local communities from setting minimum wages that are different from the state’s wage.

The measure likely deals a blow to the campaign in Cleveland, led by the Service Employees International Union, that sought to raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. 

Clevelanders were set to vote next May on a proposal to phase in that wage increase over the next few years. 

Many city leaders, including council president Kevin Kelley, opposed raising the wage in the city alone. Kelley told Cleveland.com earlier this month that he asked state lawmakers for help. 

The measure banning local wage increases was inserted into a bill concerning the regulation of dog sales. But in the lame duck session, lawmakers packed it with other provisions. 

Ohio’s minimum wage is $8.10 an hour for non-tipped employees. It’s set to increase by five cents next year. 
 

Nick Castele was a senior reporter covering politics and government for Ideastream Public Media. He worked as a reporter for Ideastream from 2012-2022.