Press Releases

For Immediate Release: February 19, 2015
Contact: Bob Keener, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org, 617-610-6766

Press statement from Holly Sklar, CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, about Walmart's announced wage increases:

"It’s important that our nation’s largest private employer is finally beginning to follow many other companies in raising starting pay. But given that the buying power of the 1968 federal minimum wage is nearly $11 adjusted for inflation, Walmart should be setting higher targets than $9 in April 2015 and $10 in 2016.

Online Business Petition Now Collecting Signatures

Harrisburg, February 9, 2015 – Lancaster business owner Charlie Crystle, Co-Founder and CEO of Lancaster Food Company and a member of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, joined Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack, state legislators and community leaders at the launch event for the Raise the Wage campaign. Crystle represented many Pennsylvania business leaders who believe that raising the minimum wage will help businesses and the state economy.

MEDIA ADVISORY: For Planning for Monday, February 9, Noon at Grace United Methodist Church, 216 State St., Harrisburg

Harrisburg – Lancaster business owner Charlie Crystle, Co-Founder and CEO of Lancaster Food Company and a member of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, will speak along with Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack, state legislators and community leaders at the launch event for the Raise the Wage campaign. Crystle will be speaking for many Pennsylvania business leaders who believe that raising the minimum wage will help businesses and the state economy.

For Immediate Release: December 29, 2014
Contact Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Washington, DC – Twenty states are raising their minimum wage this week with strong support from business owners. These include 11 states that enacted increases through legislation and ballot measures and 9 states that adjust their minimum wage annually to keep up with the cost of living. Business owners believe these state minimum wage increases make good business sense and would also like to see Congress raise the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009, to benefit the U.S. economy nationwide.

For Immediate Release: December 2, 2014
Contact Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

CHICAGO, IL – Illinois business leaders and owners, including the Illinois Small Business Person of the Year, applauded today’s minimum wage increase in Chicago and called on state lawmakers to pass legislation to gradually raise the Illinois state minimum wage to $11.

For Immediate Release: November 19, 2014
Contact Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

CHICAGO, IL – Illinois business owners are calling on state lawmakers to pass a minimum wage increase during the legislative veto session. The state minimum wage referendum was widely supported by 67% of voters and many Illinois business owners believe that increasing the minimum wage makes good business sense. A recent national poll of small business owners with employees showed strong support across the political spectrum with 61% for raising the minimum wage to $10.10 and adjusting it in future years to keep up with the cost of living.

Contact:  Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Washington, DC, November 4, 2014 – With voters expected to approve state minimum wage raises in Alaska, Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota as well as a statewide non-binding ballot measure in Illinois, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage (BFMW) leaders and members made statements underscoring the benefits to business and signaling strong support for future action in the states and at the federal level.

Says Increase Is Needed to Boost Consumer Demand

Contact: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org
Frank Knapp, Jr., 803-252-5733, Sbchamber@scsbc.org

Columbia, SC, September 18, 2014 – Today the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 5,000 businesses in the state, announced its endorsement of legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. The organization said, “The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce believes that it is vital to our local, state and national economies to increase consumer demand on Main Street. Therefore we support the effort in Congress to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour phased in over the next 2 ½ years.”

Press Advisory, Sept 11, 2014
Contact Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Minimum wage is a hot issue across America and our new short video features down-to-earth business owners speaking from experience. From red states and blue states, they support raising the minimum wage because it’s good for business, customers and our economy.

****WATCH**** “Just Like the Sign Says”

"This Business Supports a $10.10 Federal Minimum Wage. Good for Business, Customers and Our Economy.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2014
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

WASHINGTON DC – A new free removable window decal for businesses to show their support for increasing the federal minimum wage is being offered by Business for a Fair Minimum Wage and the Main Street Alliance. The decal, which reads, “This Business Supports a $10.10 Federal Minimum Wage. Good for Business, Customers and Our Economy,” provides a visible way for businesses to participate in the growing momentum of business support across the country.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2014
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

WASHINGTON DC – This Thursday, July 24, will mark five years since the federal minimum wage was last increased. Its current rate of $7.25 per hour has less buying power than it had in 1950, and a third less than in 1968, adjusted for inflation. In acknowledgment of the business community’s growing support for a minimum wage raise, two business owners will be honored by the White House on Tuesday, July 22, for their leadership as “Champions of Change.”

Employers Are Less Partisan than Congress, Saying that Higher Minimum Wage Would Boost Consumer Demand, Reduce Turnover, Increase Productivity and Improve Customer Satisfaction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2014
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Washington, DC – Small business owners with employees strongly favor raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 and adjusting it to keep up with the cost of living in future years, according to a scientific national opinion poll released today. Small business owners are considerably less partisan than Congress in weighing the issue. The federal minimum wage has been set at $7.25 an hour since it was last increased five years ago in July 2009.

A striking 61% of small business employers support increasing the federal minimum wage in three stages over two and a half years, and then adjusting it annually to keep pace with the cost of living.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2014
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

BOSTON, MA – Business owners and executives from  Business for a Fair Minimum Wage will be at the State House as Governor Patrick signs the bill giving Massachusetts the nation’s highest state minimum wage. The new law will raise the minimum wage gradually from $8 to $11 by January 2017.

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2014
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org