St. Louis Minimum Wage Hike Struck Down at the 11th Hour

Hours before a St. Louis ordinance increasing the city’s minimum wage was set to take effect, St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Steven Ohmer struck down the ordinance. The ordinance, which was passed on August 28, with an effective date of October 15, would have increased the city’s minimum wage to $8.25 per hour and created other obligations for St. Louis City employers. The  new minimum wage rate was scheduled to increase each January 1, eventually reaching $11.00 per hour in 2018.

Judge Ohmer, after refusing to grant a temporary injunction in September, found that the ordinance directly conflicted with the state’s current minimum wage law, noting that actions considered to be violations of the ordinance include several activities that are not considered violations of Missouri’s minimum wage law. Consequently, he issued a permanent injunction against the city’s enforcement of the ordinance, declaring it to be void and unenforceable.

This ruling does not mark the end of the legal battle over the city’s attempt to increase its minimum wage. Shortly after Judge Ohmer’s decision, Mayor Francis Slay himself tweeted that the city would appeal the decision. Stay tuned to our blog for the latest developments regarding this case.