By Katie Johnston
Boston Globe, September 19, 2017
Supporters of a statewide $15 hourly minimum wage packed a State House hearing Tuesday afternoon, testifying that a pay hike would not only help workers support their families, but would stimulate the local economy by giving workers more money to spend. ...
The bills, in the House and Senate, would increase the minimum wage by $1 a year over the course of four years, reaching $15 by 2021, and would also increase the tipped minimum wage, currently $3.75, to the same amount over the course of eight years. After it reaches $15, the minimum wage would be adjusted every year to rise at the cost of living rate. ...
A group of more than 200 Massachusetts business leaders have come out in support of a $15 minimum wage, including Michael Kanter, co-owner of the health store Cambridge Naturals. Kanter raised his store’s base wage to $15 in December, and said that he has already recouped the $40,000 it cost him through increased productivity, worker retention, and record sales. Kanter marketed the pay raise to his customers, and they responded, he said: “That gained us a lot of kudos.” ...
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