By Megan R. Wilson
Bloomberg, Feb. 16, 2021
A proposal to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2025 has triggered a fierce lobbying battle on Capitol Hill, pitting some powerful business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce against large labor unions and civil rights coalitions. ...
Proponents of the hike such as the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, and the National Employment Law Project say the virus-driven economic downturn illustrates that a boost is necessary to help lift people out of poverty. Coalitions of companies, such as Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, argue that raising the wage is better for business by reducing worker turnover and increasing productivity. Heavy-hitters including Amazon.com Inc. have also thrown their weight behind support for the proposal, saying $15 “is the minimum that anyone in the U.S. should earn for an hour of labor.” ...