Press Releases

Baltimore Business Owners Applaud City Council Passage of $15 Minimum Wage

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.

Maryland Business Leaders Support $15 Minimum Wage Bill Before Senate

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.

Business Owners to Testify in Support of $15 Minimum Wage at Baltimore City Council Hearing

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.

New Year Minimum Wage Increases Will Benefit Businesses Across U.S.

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.

Business Owners Supportive of Minimum Wage Hikes Available to Comment on New Year’s Increases

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.

Store of the Year Winner Cambridge Naturals Raises Starting Pay to $15

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.

U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez and Deputy Secretary Chris Lu Join Fast Growing &pizza to Call for Raising Minimum Wage

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.

Business Owners Applaud State Minimum Wage Victories and Call for Federal Increase

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.