For immediate release: March 31, 2016
CONTACT: Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014
, erin@erinmusgravecommunications.com
or Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org
Small business owners across the state are making their voices heard in support of a bill, passed by the California Legislature Thursday, which will gradually increase the Golden State’s minimum wage to $15. Owners of companies of varying sizes are speaking out in favor of a bill they say is a smart business move because it will put more money in their customer’s pockets, increase worker productivity and strengthen the economy.
The bill is expected to be signed by the governor in a matter of days.
“We strongly support $15 per hour statewide,” said Eric Edelson, CEO of Fireclay Tile in San Francisco and Aromas. “Raising California’s minimum wage is a great investment in the economy.”
“California is once again leading the nation with a welcome minimum wage hike to $15 by 2022,” said David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s in Vista, Calif. “People who put in a full day’s work deserve to make ends meet on their paychecks without taxpayers having to inefficiently and unfairly subsidize low-wage employers with public assistance for their employees. Under California’s six-year phased approach, $15 will not be a problem for businesses or the economy as a whole to handle. A $15 minimum wage in 2022 is not the same as $15 today – it's worth about $13 in 2016 dollars, adjusting for inflation. Dr. Bronner’s looks forward to seeing significant raises to the minimum wage this year in other states like New York, Washington, Maine and Colorado as well as Washington DC – building pressure at the federal level to raise the wage nationwide.”
“This is a historic day for California,” said Holly Sklar, CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage. “Raising the minimum wage will boost the consumer buying power that businesses depend on to thrive and create jobs. And with wages workers can live on, businesses will see reduced employee turnover, increased productivity and higher customer satisfaction. California’s new minimum wage is an important investment in shared prosperity and progress.”
Small business owners across the state are available for interviews and broadcast bookings today and in the coming days. To schedule an interview, contact Erin Musgrave at erin@erinmusgravecommunications.com or (530) 864-7014.
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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.