The Road to Michigan’s New Minimum Wage Law

In 2018, the Michigan One Fair Wage campaign launched an effort to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour and eliminate tipping through a ballot measure. The proposal received enough valid signatures to go to voters during the Midterm elections. However, GOP lawmakers opted to approve the measure instead, so that portions of the new minimum wage law — particularly provisions related to tipping — could be more easily amended in a lame duck session. Supporters of the original ballot measure campaign have vowed to fight any attempts to change the new law. State Republican lawmakers successfully passed sweeping changes to the original version of the proposal and the amended plan was signed by lame duck governor Rick Snyder.

The new minimum wage law could have sweeping consequences for the state’s restaurant and bar industry where gratuity is still the rule at many establishments. As the law now stands, Michigan will not become the eighth state to abolish the tipped minimum wage. However, court challenges could be the next step. Follow all the updates here.