How good is Florida for workers? Not so good, study says

According to a new report from Oxfam America, Florida ranks 37^th in the nation for workers.

The anti-poverty organization released its report on the status of labor rights in all 50 states late last week.

In terms of wage policies, Florida is around the middle of the pack when it comes to wage policies – ranking in at 26. The report ranks Florida 35^th for worker protection policies, and 30^th when it comes to  the right to organize.

West Virginia leads the Southeast region in worker protections and livable wages. That state’s $8.75 per hour minimum wage is higher than Florida’s $8.25.

“West Virginia provides rights in several areas where Florida is lacking, particularly worker protections,” the study says.

The report also notes that Florida provides “some” collective bargaining rights for public workers and did raise the state minimum wage (via a constitutional amendment in 2004).

“However, it is a right-to-work state, and, like Pennsylvania, has passed only minimal worker protection legislation,” the study says. (Right-to-work laws prohibit labor unions and employers from requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment).

Washington D.C. is considered a state in the index, and ranks number one in the study, followed by Washington, California, Massachusetts, Vermont and Oregon. Virginia was listed as the worst state for workers, followed by Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.