Minneapolis Works
September 2015
The Feldman Group, Inc.
A majority of voters believe the Minneapolis economy is getting better
Is the economy in Minneapolis generally getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Direction of the Minneapolis Economy
39%
49%
7%
Getting better
Getting worse
Staying about the same
2
Voters believe the economic environment is improving for businesses but the
middle class, working families, and low-income people are struggling
Here in Minneapolis, do you think things are getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same for each of the following.
Businesses
Workers
60%
60%
50%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
10%
38%
27% 25%
26% 28%
20%
57%
50%
45%
10%
14%
9%
0%
0%
The Middle Class
Working Families
Getting better
Low-Income People
Getting worse
9%
4%
Employers
Locally-Based
The Business
Businesses
Community
Getting better
Getting worse
3
Support for proposals to address Minneapolis labor issues is broad, with 7 out of 8
proposals receiving majority strong support
Here are some proposals that may come before the Minneapolis City Council. Please tell me whether you want your Councilmember to vote yes or no on each one. If
you feel strongly or moderately about how they should vote, please say so.
100%
90%
80%
15%
24%
30%
27%
70%
30%
60%
23%
30%
50%
40%
30%
29%
70%
67%
61%
57%
54%
53%
20%
50%
32%
10%
0%
Increase the
Paid time off for
minimum wage to illnesses and
over $9
family
emergencies
Reasonable
employee
scheduling
requests
Establish a board
to investigate
wage theft
Yes - Strongly
Promoting fulltime work
Right to rest
Compensation for Advanced notice
canceled or onof schedules
call shifts
Yes - Moderately
4
Voters think the current minimum wage is too low, and broadly support raising it
A majority of voters say that people who work full time but still
do not earn enough to support themselves or their families is a
problem very often (27 percent) or often (40 percent).
27%
40%
Sixty eight (68) percent say that the current $9 minimum wage
is too low.
68%
A total of 82 percent support raising the minimum wage to
$15 now or over time.
82%
A total of 88 percent support raising the minimum wage to
$12 now or over time.
88%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
5
A Plurality of voters strongly support establishing an office to enforce business
accountability
Some people have proposed a new Office of Business Accountability (SPLIT A)/Office of Labor Standards (SPLIT B) that has the authority to investigate suspected
violations and enforce the city’s laws governing wages and fair treatment of employees. Do you support or oppose such an office within city government?
Labor Standards/Business Accountability Office
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
39%
15%
30%
10%
5%
14%
10%
Oppose - moderately
Oppose - strongly
0%
Support - strongly
Support - moderately
6
Voters deeply approve of the city working with community organizations to
enforce laws
Working With The Community
90%
85%
80%
70%
Would you approve or disapprove of the city working with
community organizations to determine whether the city’s laws
governing wages and fair treatment of employees are being
violated? (IF CHOICE: And do you feel that way strongly or
moderately?)
36%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
49%
10%
10%
6%
4%
0%
Approve
Disapprove
Strongly
Moderately
7
Conclusions




Voters believe the economic situation in the city is getting
better for businesses, but that low-income people, the middle
class, and working families are still struggling.
Support for a minimum wage increase is broad
There is broad support for City Council labor and wage
proposals
Voters support establishing an office to enforce the city’s laws
governing wages and the fair treatment of employees
8
Minneapolis Works
September 2015
The Feldman Group, Inc.