By Associated Press
Springfield, IL – MINIMUM-WAGE WORKERS IN ILLINOIS ARE RECEIVING A $0.25 HOURLY BOOST IN PAY, TO $7.75 PER HOUR.
STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE INCREASE WILL MEAN $520 MORE PER YEAR FOR 650,000 WORKERS.
IT IS THE SECOND IN A FOUR-STEP HIKE IN WAGES ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH IN 2006. THE FINAL STEPS INCREASE THE WAGE TO $8.00 NEXT JULY AND $8.25 IN JULY 2010.
ILLINOIS' PAY RATE IS NEARLY TWO DOLLARS HIGHER THAN THE FEDERAL STANDARD.
