Press Releases

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

July 18, 2017—July 24 will mark eight years since the federal minimum wage was last increased. Since 2009, the federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 – worth less than it was in 1950, adjusted for the cost of living. Business owners and executives across the country are speaking out in support of raising the minimum wage to strengthen businesses and boost consumer buying power.

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

July 6, 2017 – Today Pennsylvania business leaders participated in various events across the state, urging lawmakers to raise the state’s minimum wage.

They cited numerous business benefits a higher minimum wage would have for their businesses, other Pennsylvania businesses and the state economy as a whole. The business leaders participated in events in Wilkes-Barre, Delaware County and Philadelphia and were joined by elected officials, workers and community leaders. Rep. Patty Kim introduced HB 1520, which would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2024 and Gov. Tom Wolf included an increase to $12 in his budget proposal.

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave, erin@emcstrategies.com, (530) 864-7014

June 29, 2017—Business owners across the country are looking forward to the boost in consumer spending, reduced employee turnover, and increased productivity and customer satisfaction that will come with various state and local minimum wage increases taking effect on July 1.

Giving low-income workers a raise will strengthen communities and local businesses. Gradually raising minimum wages will mean a more stable, productive workforce as well as increased consumer buying power.

CONTACT:
 Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Chicago, IL, June 9, 2017 – Today Chicagoland business owner David Borris, owner of Hel’s Kitchen Catering, urged Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign recently-passed legislation gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $15. Borris joined State Rep. Will Guzzardi and State Sen. Omar Aquino at a press conference supporting the bill that the Illinois General Assembly passed last week.

Borris cited numerous business benefits a higher minimum wage would have for his Chicagoland catering business, his fellow Illinois business owners and the state economy as a whole.

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave at erin@emcstrategies.com or (530) 864-7014

Springfield, May 31, 2017 — Local business owners applauded the Illinois State Senate’s passage today of legislation gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2022, and urge Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign the legislation into law.

Business owners say that raising the minimum wage will boost the consumer spending that businesses depend on to survive and grow. Business owners also support a minimum wage increase because it will lead to lower employee turnover and reduce the hiring and training costs associated with higher turnover. Businesses will also benefit from increased productivity and greater customer satisfaction.

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave at erin@emcstrategies.com or 530-864-7014

Local business owners urge Mayor Catherine Pugh to sign bill gradually raising Baltimore’s minimum wage to $15; they are available for interviews upon request

Baltimore, March 20, 2017 — Local business owners applauded the City Council’s passage today of legislation gradually raising Baltimore’s minimum wage to $15 by July 1, 2022 for businesses with 50 or more employees, and to $15 by 2026 for businesses with fewer than 50 workers.

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave at erin@emcstrategies.com or 530-864-7014

Annapolis, March 15, 2017 — Maryland business leaders submitted testimony supporting legislation the Senate Finance Committee is considering today, which would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15.

The proposed legislation, SB 962, would gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2022 for businesses with 26 or more employees, and to $15 by 2023 for businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

CONTACT:
 Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Annapolis, March 7, 2017 — Maryland business leaders will testify today in support of gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 at a public hearing held by the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee.

CONTACT:
 Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com or Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org
Baltimore, March 1, 2017 — Local business owners will testify today in support of gradually raising Baltimore’s minimum wage to $15 at a public hearing held by the Baltimore City Council. The proposed legislation would gradually increase Baltimore’s minimum wage to $15 by July 1, 2022 for businesses with more than 50 employees, and to $15 by 2026 for businesses with fewer than 50 workers.

Contact: Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@erinmusgravecommunications.com

Dec. 22, 2016 – Business leaders across the country are speaking out in support of minimum wage increases taking effect on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 because of the many economic benefits associated with a higher wage floor. Nineteen states will be kicking off the new year by raising their minimum wages because of ballot measures or legislation passed in 2016 and previous years. Three additional states and the District of Columbia have scheduled increases or an annual cost of living adjustment coming in July 2017.

Contact: Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@erinmusgravecommunications.com
Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Dec. 14, 2016 – Nineteen states will be raising their minimum wage to start the new year because of ballot measures and legislation passed in 2016 and previous years. This will boost consumer spending, lower employee turnover, and increase productivity and customer satisfaction for myriad businesses—providing a welcome boost to local economies.

December 13, 2016 – Cambridge Naturals, an award-winning family-owned retailer in Cambridge, MA, will increase its starting hourly wage from $13 to $15, effective December 19. While the company already pays above the state minimum wage and the retail industry average, the new $15 wage floor will be in line with the higher standard for a living wage in the city of Cambridge. In addition, Cambridge Naturals already provides 100% medical and dental insurance coverage to all full-time employees.

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@erinmusgravecommunications.com OR Charly Rok, (917-912-2863), charrok@gmail.com

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage member &pizza hosts roundtable to discuss how businesses thrive with a fair wage, low-turnover business model

Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2016 — Today, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage member &pizza hosted a roundtable with Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez and Deputy Secretary Christopher Lu to discuss the business and economic case for paying fair wages and the need to raise the minimum wage at the state and federal level.

Contact: Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@erinmusgravecommunications.com
Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Business owners quoted below, and many others around the country, available for interviews

Nov. 8, 2016 – Business leaders are applauding passage of ballot initiatives raising the minimum wage in Arizona, Colorado, Maine and Washington State, and are urging Congress to follow suit and raise the outdated federal minimum wage of $7.25, which comes to just $15,080 a year for full-time workers and undermines the consumer demand that businesses depend on.