Year in review: Region expecting hundreds of new jobs

Lee Malloy, president of Clovis Industrial Development Corp., was one of several city officials who spoke during a news conference in November to announce Beauty Health and Science Innovations intent to move its corporate headquarters to Clovis. Beauty Health and Science Innovations, a beauty supply manufacturing company, announced plans to open in Clovis in April […]

Official: Average wage not indication of what average worker earns

CNJ graphic: Sharna Johnson Sharna Johnson According to the state, the average weekly wage in Curry County for private industry employees was $551 in 2010, but those who work closely with local wage information say it’s not an indication of what the average person in the area earns. An employee making the average wage would […]

Minimum wage increase adjustments ongoing

CNJ staff photo: Sharna Johnson Terri White, front, labels, wraps and feeds jalapeno peanut brittle into a machine while Fawn Goodwin packages the candies into cartons Thursday after they are sealed by the machine. Leslie’s Candy Co. owner Greg Southard said he cut his staff size and brought in machines to compensate for a 2009 […]

Freedom Communications announces company-wide wage reduction

Freedom New Mexico Freedom Communications, Inc. announced a five percent across-the-board

House bill guarantees wages

By Sandra Baltazar Martinez: The New Mexican House Labor and Human Resources Committee members approved a bill aimed at protecting New Mexico employees from wage theft. House Bill 489 sponsored by State Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque, was approved with a 4-2 vote Tuesday. Among other provisions, the bill aims to guarantee that workers get their […]

Businesses anticipate wage raise

Freedom New Mexico: Mickey Winfield Weston Clark takes the order of Clovis residents Robin and Mike Eberhardt Tuesday afternoon at the Portales Taco Box. By Mickey Winfield: Freedom New Mexico A $1 rise in the New Mexico minimum wage taking effect in about a week has local business owners scrambling to find ways to make […]

Adjusting wage rates hinders U.S. workforce

Freedom New Mexico Earlier this month, many people with

Governor signs changed wage law

The Associated Press SANTA FE —A new law is taking effect to resolve an overtime pay problem for state and local governments. Gov. Bill Richardson signed the overtime measure into law Friday. It took effect immediately. Police, firemen and corrections officers will be able to work flexible shifts without incurring overtime. Local and state governments […]

Wage law passed: Waiting governor’s signature

The Associated Press SANTA FE — Lawmakers moved quickly to help the state, cities and counties avoid millions of dollars in overtime pay for police, firefighters and some other workers. The Legislature is sending Gov. Bill Richardson a bill that’s to fix a problem that occurred last year when the state enacted a higher minimum […]

Business Digest: Glass Doctor makes magazine

By Kevin Wilson: CNJ staff writer Entrepreneur magazine listed Glass Doctor No. 318 in its 2008 “Franchise 500” list, according to a news release. Glass Doctor of Clovis, locally operated by Gene Porter, is part of the nation’s largest full-service glass provider, which serves the residential, automotive and commercial glass repair and replacement markets at […]

Minimum wage going up Jan. 1

Sarah Meyer, CNJ News editor New Mexico employees working at minimum wage jobs will get a 65-cent per hour pay raise Tuesday, but local business owners say the increase is likely to cause more problems than it solves. The state minimum wage jumps to $6.50 an hour beginning Tuesday from the current federal minimum wage […]

Minimum wage law affects city’s overtime pay

By Sharna Johnson: CNJ staff writer An element of the new state minimum wage law could cost local governments tens of thousands of dollars in overtime pay and is drawing opposition from city officials across the state. The new law, effective Jan. 1, cements a work period as 40 hours in seven days with no […]

Making the rounds

CNJ Staff photo: Andy DeLisle Sen. Clint Harden, R-Clovis, speaks at the Roundhouse Review Chamber Breakfast at Clovis Community College on Friday morning. By Marlena Hartz: CNJ Staff Writer State lawmakers gave local business and civic leaders a glimpse into the legislative session that ended March 17 at a Friday breakfast. The gathering was organized […]

Governor: Minimum wage bill his ‘crown jewel’

By Karl Terry and Sharna Johnson: Freedom Newspapers As the clock ticked down on the 2007 New Mexico Legislature, a lobbying effort by Gov. Bill Richardson produced a state minimum wage. Legislation to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.50 won final approval Friday when it narrowly passed the Senate. Richardson called it the […]

Udall says country needs to heal

By Karl Terry: Freedom Newspapers PORTALES — Minimum wage and health care were the dominated topics Monday during U.S. Rep. Tom Udall’s Town Hall Meeting at Portales City Hall. The wide-ranging discussion also covered topics from student loans to the Iraq War. It was Udall’s first meeting in Portales since Democrats took control of the […]

Wage setting not part of Congress’ responsibilities

By Freedom Newspapers Why can’t Washington keep it simple? It seems every time Congress passes a law that meddles in areas where government shouldn’t be, lawmakers add some kind of so-called incentives to make its intrusions more palatable to voters. Take the federal minimum wage hike being debated by Congress. The proposal passed the House […]

State minimum wage bill flies through Senate

By Karl Terry: Freedom Newspapers Moving with a speed that surprised some legislators, the state Senate approved a minimum wage bill 35-7 late Friday, sending it to the House before a House version had a chance to get on track. Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, said she’s fundamentally opposed to a state minimum wage and believes […]

More money, more problems for upcoming session

By Barry Massey: The Associated Press State government has plenty of it and lots of people are lining up to help spend it during the Legislature’s 60-day session. The Legislature convenes next week and lawmakers will have a record amount of revenue available to pay for programs and offset tax cuts in the coming fiscal […]

Minimum wage doesn’t cut it anymore

By Ned Cantwell: State columnist It had to be a great Labor Day celebration for Carly Fiorina. Closer to home, Louis Caldera and Manny Aragon had a little more sizzle in their barbecue than most. They are just three examples, members of the American Labor Force who were smart enough to figure out something about […]

Letters to the Editors 8-6

New water rates to inflict financial burden I am writing in response to last Sunday’s guest column by New Mexico American Water Co. Vice President Kathy Wright (“New water rates to provide for long-term”): According to my last water bill, I have one of those households that uses more than 15,000 gallons of water in […]