FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2014
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org
BOSTON, MA – Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a Boston-based network of business owners, executives, and business groups, released a statement supporting the minimum wage increase passed by the MA House today. The bill will raise the minimum wage gradually from $8 to $11. A minimum wage increase was passed last week by the MA Senate.
"We applaud the legislature for listening to business owners who’ve called for a minimum wage increase to $11 an hour," said Holly Sklar, Director of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage. "We can’t build a strong economy on a falling wage floor. Massachusetts led the nation in passing the first state minimum wage a century ago in June 1912, and Massachusetts will again be leading with an $11 wage floor that is good for business, good for customers and good for our economy."
“Increasing the minimum wage will be good for our business community,” said David Starr, Owner of Berkshire Natural Healthy Vending machine company, based in Northampton. “Paying people a wage that is not sustainable to support themselves causes stress, distraction and a loss of self-esteem. A fair wage goes a long way to creating a supportive work environment.”
Joseph Rotella, Owner of Spencer Organ Company in Waltham said, “As a small business owner, I strongly support raising the outdated Massachusetts minimum wage. When worker paychecks don’t even cover necessities, local businesses are hurt by low or falling demand for their products and our economy suffers. Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do for the wellbeing of our workforce, businesses and communities.”
"Even for small, low volume restaurants like ours, paying a higher minimum wage makes sense for our employees and our community," said Alden Booth, Owner of The People's Pint, a restaurant and brewery in Greenfield. "We already pay a minimum of $11/hour for all our employees and that is barely a living wage in Western Mass towns, let alone the Eastern urban areas, where the cost of living is higher."
“I have owned a small business employing nearly 50 people for 24 years,” said Rachael Solem, Owner and General Manager of Irving House and Harding House in Cambridge and a recent Massachusetts Lodging Association General Manager of the Year for small properties. “My starting wage is $11, which leads to a more stable workforce and customer service I'm proud of. It only makes sense that those working are compensated fairly. The more businesses compensate employees fairly, the less we all have to pay in government assistance for working people with inadequate wages."
More than 100 business owners, executives and business organizations across the state have signed the Massachusetts Business for a Fair Minimum Wage Statement, which calls for the same increase as the House-Senate legislation (gradually raising to $11), with an additional provision for annual increases to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Signers include Costco, the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, City Fresh Foods, Hollister Staffing, Porter Square Books, The Longfellow Clubs, Cambridge Naturals, TAGS Hardware, South Mountain Company, Boston Organics, Sustainability Roundtable Inc., Tech Networks of Boston, The People’s Pint, Irving House Inn, Fire & Ice Restaurant, Basil Tree Catering & Café, Fresh Hair, Solventerra, The Just Crust Pizzeria, Dean's Beans Organic Coffee, Equal Exchange, Responsible Wealth, Stride Rite Foundation Chairman Arnold Hiatt, William Gallagher Associates CEO Philip Edmundson, and many more.
NOTE: Massachusetts business people are available for comment and/or broadcast booking. Please contact Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org.
Business for a Fair Minimum Wage is a national network of business owners and executives who believe a fair minimum wage makes good business sense. www.businessforafairminimumwage.org.
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