07/21

www.clearoptions.biz
(423) 266-4805

Federal Minimum Wage Set for Second Stage of Increase
By Bill Leonard

The federal minimum wage will become $6.55 per hour on July 24, 2008. The 70-cent raise from 5.85 per hour is the second stage of a two-year, three-phased increase of the wage, which began in July 2007.

To comply with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulations governing the wage increase, all employers that hire workers subject to minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act must display posters (attached) explaining the wage increase. The posters must be hung in a conspicuous place, and businesses should allow their employees to read the notice.

The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division has placed approved copies of the poster online. Employers can download and print the posters for free. Businesses, even organizations located in states where the minimum wage is higher than the federal hourly rate, should display the DOL-approved notices before the wage increase takes effect, officials say.

Congress approved the first increase to the federal minimum wage in 10 years in May 2007, as part of a supplemental spending package for the conflict in Iraq. The minimum wage increase had been included in the funding bill as a compromise proposal. President Bush signed the legislation (PL 11-028) into law on May 24, 2007.

Under the law, the federal minimum wage was set to be increased $2.10 per hour in three 70-cent increments. The third and final phase will increase the wage to $7.25 per hour and will take effect on July 24, 2009.

06/15

CMA Quarterly Review: May 28th, 2008

CMA’s Lean Manufacturing Network continues to be well-attended. The meetings are held in the EPB training room, and the only expense is the parking fee and a $5 contribution towards a pizza lunch. The next session will be at 11:30 AM on June 20th.

Congratulations to Jerry Tyman and the employees of Tennessee Rand Automation for winning the 2008 Kruesi “Spirit of Free Enterprise Award. The award is presented by the Chamber of Commerce for excellence in Innovation.

Mayor Littlefield’s Chattanooga Green Committee and several sub-committees are meeting to chart a proper course for increasing sustainability in everything that we do. A recent public meeting attracted about 500 interested citizens to participate in an interactive session to board ideas for goals and ideas. CMA members are encouraged to participate in this process, which if properly nurtured, can turn “Green into Gold.”

The 9th Annual Chattanooga Made product exhibition was held at Hamilton Place Mall on March 14th. Hundreds of school children on spring break consumed thousands of Little Debbies and Moon Pies, and carried away hundreds of tubes and bottles of sun tan products provided by Schering Plough. Each year the students and their parents and other visitors to the Mall are amazed at the number of products that are made right here in Chattanooga!

Also on March 14th, residential, commercial and industrial consumers of water provided by the Tennessee American Water company were amazed at the announcement of a request filed with the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. The TAWC requested an increase of 20.58% across the board, following an increase of 12.3% effective May 22, 2007. Needless to say, CMA, the City of Chattanooga, the Hamilton County Commission, the State Consumer Advocate Division of the Attorney General’s office and other interested persons will vigorously oppose this excessive increase.

There is much speculation concerning the siting of a Volkswagen assembly plant at Enterprise South. Chamber of Commerce Economic Development leaders and others involved in such matters anxiously await the decision expected to be made soon.

The Regional Planning Agency will conduct a neighborhood land use plan update for the Alton Park area. The plan will focus on key redevelopment properties such as the old Anchor Glass site and the old Belle School site among others. A public meeting has been scheduled for June 19. CMA participated in a preliminary meeting with representatives of the RPA and will continue to follow this process as it moves forward. The area has a strong history of manufacturing activity, and with the current body of environmental regulation, modern manufacturers may once again become a good neighbor, a concerned corporate citizen and an integral part of a revitalized community economy.

The CMA Staff met recently with a representative of the U.S. Department of Transportation Division of Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Out of the meeting came a plan to present a seminar dealing with proper use of Hazardous Materials (HMR; 49 CFR), dealing with the Hazardous Materials Table, mode restrictions, proper shipping name, labeling, hazard class, training, etc. After sampling the membership it was concluded that there was sufficient interest to schedule a seminar on this subject. The seminar will be held here at the EPB Building on Wednesday, July 14th.