Retailers Association Keeping Watch As Minimum Wage Petition Drive Begins

A petition drive is underway in the state to put the question of raising the minimum wage on the ballot next year.  The drive would set the wage at eight fifty an hour, with automatic increases tied to inflation.  Shawn Lyons, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association says they are watching carefully…

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Lyons says the automatic increases could be a problem for many small businesses…

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Lyons says the tight labor market in the state is pushing wages higher in most cases…

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The petition drive, backed by the state Democratic Party and labor groups, needs about sixteen thousand signatures by early November.