Senator Waggoner says that creating predictability and consistency helps economic growth

By Tyler Pruett

tyler@southerntorch.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— The Alabama Senate acted this week to encourage economic growth and job creation by creating uniform statewide minimum wage and labor policies. Senator Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) and Representative David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook) sponsored House Bill 174, also known as the Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right to Work Act.

“Senate Republicans deserve credit for championing and affirming that free enterprise creates opportunity for all,” Senator Waggoner said. “By passing the Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right to Work Act, we are protecting job creators from having to deal with dozens of different minimum wages and labor rules that would vary from city to city.”

The bill, which is now headed to Governor Robert Bentley for his signature, prevents local governments from instituting a minimum wage and requires all cities and counties in Alabama to use the federal wage standards as a measure. Its passage means businesses across Alabama will again have a predictable wage standard, which encourages economic growth.

In addition, Senator Waggoner’s legislation cements Alabama as a right-to-work state by giving the Legislature alone authority to establish uniform employment policies and regulations of collective bargaining.

“We want businesses to expand and create more jobs – not cut entry-level jobs because a patchwork of local minimum wages causes operating costs to rise. Our actions today will create predictability and consistency for Alabama’s economy, which benefits everyone,” concluded Waggoner.