Michigan Supreme Court Brings Back Higher Minimum Wage, Paid Leave Laws [Video]

The Michigan Supreme Court has shot down an effort by Republican lawmakers to weaken minimum wage and paid leave laws that voters were set to pass by ballot initiative six years ago.

The ruling means Michigan’s wage floor is likely to rise to above $12 next year and continue rising each year according to inflation. The state will also begin phasing out its “tipped” minimum wage, which allows restaurants and other employers to pay workers less if they earn gratuities.

Meanwhile, a requirement allowing workers to earn paid sick leave will apply to employers across the state, including small businesses.

Worker advocacy groups had rounded up signatures to put those proposals before voters in 2018. But the Republican majorities in the statehouse voted to adopt those measures in order to keep them off the ballot — then voted to water them down in ways that pleased business groups.

The maneuver, known as …