Minneapolis supporters of $15 minimum wage prepare petitions - and their legal arguments

Supporters of a $15 minimum wage in Minneapolis say they’ll deliver 20,000 petition signatures to City Hall this week — and are confident they have the legal right to put the issue on the ballot this November.

Organizers need 6,869 verified signatures to get the issue on the ballot. But they’ll also have to convince the City Council of two key legal points: that the city has the legal standing to raise wages on its own, and that it can be done by amending the city’s charter, which lays out the framework for how city government operates.

Members of the groups 15 Now and Neighborhoods Organizing for Change laid out their legal arguments on Monday during a media conference call that featured the analysis of two attorneys. Both said they are confident that a higher minimum wage in Minneapolis would stand up to legal challenges.

http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-supporters-of-15-minimum-wage-prepare-petitions-and-their-legal-arguments/384593031/