New Orleans City Business, 7/20/07

METAIRIE - Seven Louisiana business people have signed a nationwide statement in support of the higher federal minimum wage, which takes effect Tuesday.

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a project of Boston-based Business for Shared Prosperity, is collecting signatures from businesses across the country in support of the higher minimum wage at www.businessforafairminimumwage.org.

The Louisiana signatures are from:

- Evelyn Cathey, Mandeville, president of Creations Galore.

- Donna Cleary, Baton Rouge, owner and CEO of Cleary Enterprises.

- Dimples Crosby, Cut Off, director and owner of C & D Production and B & S Welding Inc.

- Marianne Frazee, Baton Rouge, owner of Frazee Recruiting Consultants Inc.

- Yvette Hymel, New Orleans, owner of Profroma Key Solutions.

- Camille Moran, Natchitoches, certified paralegal, BPW/USA

- Diane Orgeron, Harvey, president of Jefferson Marine Towing Inc.

Federal Minimum wage will rise for the first time in years, marking the end of the longest period without an increase since minimum wage was enacted in 1938, the business group said.

It is scheduled to rise from $5.15 to $5.85 Tuesday, from $5.85 to $6.55 on July 24, 2008, and from $6.55 to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage is a strong supporter of the raises and said that "the minimum wage has been so eroded over time that even with the new raises, minimum wage workers will have less buying power than minimum wage workers had half a century ago."

http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/uptotheminute.cfm?recid=11759