BFMW In the News

By Ted Hesson
Politico Morning Shift, Dec 18, 2017

By Elisha Machado
WWLP -22News, Dec. 15, 2017

BOSTON (WWLP)—A ballot question that would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 dollars per hour by 2022 is still in the running for a spot on the 2018 ballot. ...

By Shira Schoenberg
MassLive, The Springfield Republican, Dec 7, 2017

Ballot questions that would raise the minimum wage, lower the sales tax, require employers to offer paid family leave and regulate nurse staffing are all expected to gather enough signatures to get on the ballot in 2018. ...

Minimum wage

By Elisha Machado
WWLP -22News, Dec 7, 2017

BOSTON (WWLP)—A state sales tax reduction and a $15 minimum wage are two of several initiative petitions still in the running to gain a spot on the 2018 ballot. ...

The minimum wage question would increase the state’s minimum wage from $11 per hour to $15 per hour by 2022. Some businesses are supporting the move.

“A really good way to increase consumer spending is to put more money in the pockets of low wage workers,” Business for a Fair Minimum Wage Communications Director Bob Keener said.

By Aaron Nicodemus
Bloomberg BNA Daily Labor Report, Dec 6, 2017

By Michael P. Norton
State House News Service, Dec 5, 2017

A business owner who raised his company's entry wage to $15 an hour last year says his company has experienced less staff turnover, better customer service, and growing sales since then.

Michael Kanter plans on Tuesday to describe the wage hike's impact as activists submit more than 139,000 signatures to the state in their bid to put a question on the 2018 ballot requiring the minimum wage to rise to $15 an hour by 2022.

By Michael P. Norton, State House News Service
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Dec 5, 2017

BOSTON — A business owner who raised his company’s entry wage to $15 an hour last year says his company has experienced less staff turnover, better customer service, and growing sales since then.

Michael Kanter plans on Tuesday to describe the wage hike’s impact as activists submit more than 139,000 signatures to the state in their bid to put a question on the 2018 ballot requiring the minimum wage to rise to $15 an hour by 2022.

By Eillie Anzilotti
Fast Company, Oct 31, 2017

Serving up unique pies for an affordable price–and a living wage and healthcare for employees–the ethical pizza shop is expanding rapidly.

Op-Ed By Michael Lastoria  –  Co-founder and CEO, &pizza
Washington Business Journal, Oct 26, 2017

It’s a simple, but critical concept: Take care of your people and your business will thrive for it.

And it’s a concept that’s often missed.

By Jonathan Maze
Nation's Restaurant News, Oct 25, 2017

RSE Ventures, a sports and entertainment venture firm co-founded by the owner of the Miami Dolphins, has invested at least $25 million in the 23-unit fast casual pizza chain &pizza, the company announced on Wednesday. ... It’s the third funding round since 2015 for the Washington, D.C.-based chain, which has now received at least $60 million from investment firms over that period.

By James T. Madore
Newsday, October 20, 2017

...  In Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties the minimum rose from $9 to $10 per hour on Dec. 31, 2016, and it will rise by another $1 each year until $15 is reached in December 2021.

... Not all local manufacturing executives feel burdened by the higher minimum wage. Some are even enthusiastic supporters.

By Mary C. King
Portland Tribune, Oct 5, 2017

The stronger of two studies of Seattle's recent minimum-wage hikes shows clear gains in weekly earnings and no loss of jobs or hours. ... Seattle's success at pushing fast food restaurants to pay better wages without cutting jobs, is most likely due to higher sales, lower turnover and better employee productivity.

By Rachel Siegel
Washington Post, September 25, 2017

...  Business owners who support a $15 minimum wage include Michael Lastoria, founder of &pizza, which has locations in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as the District, whose city council voted last year to require a $15-an-hour minimum wage by 2020.

Lastoria said higher wages help connect people to their employers and, by reducing turnover, also reduce training costs.

By Kaitlin Milliken
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Sept 23, 2017

BOSTON − As state legislators discuss bills to raise the minimum wage, business owners must decide if they are willing − and able − to pay their employees $15 an hour. ... Advocates say higher pay will improve employees’ quality of life, decrease job turnover and increase local spending. ...

By M.J. Tidwell
Daily Hampshire Gazette, September 22, 2017

BOSTON — Proponents of a bill to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021 spoke at a Statehouse hearing this week about the difficulties of living off the current $11 standard. But they also sympathized with business owners.