Press Releases

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

Harrisburg, PA, March 7, 2016. – Pennsylvania business owners joined Governor Tom Wolf as he signed an Executive Order establishing a minimum wage of $10.15 an hour for state employees under his jurisdiction as well as employees of state government contractors. Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, which has been set at $7.25 an hour since 2009, is lower than most other states, including all six of Pennsylvania’s neighbors.

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

Washington, DC, December 23, 2015  – Fourteen states are raising their minimum wage next week with strong support from business owners. Business leaders believe these state 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 economy nationwide.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 2, 2015
CONTACT: Bob Keener, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org, 617-610-6766

Business owners and executives across America are calling for an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 – just $15,080 a year – since 2009. This Labor Day, the federal minimum wage will be worth less than it was on Labor Day 1950 when the minimum wage was $7.43, adjusted for inflation. It will have one-third less buying power than the minimum wage of 1968 ($10.97 in 2015 dollars).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2015
CONTACT: Bob Keener, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org, 617-610-6766

WASHINGTON, DC – This Friday, July 24, will mark six years since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 2009. Business leaders say the delay in raising the minimum wage is bad for businesses and our economy as well as for workers.

“Businesses need customers who can afford what they are selling, but today’s minimum wage has less buying power than it had in 1950,” said Holly Sklar, CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage. “We can’t build a strong economy on a weak wage foundation.”

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2015
Contact Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

KANSAS CITY, MO – Business leaders applauded today’s action by the Kansas City Council to establish a minimum wage of $8.50 an hour on August 24, 2015 that will be gradually raised to $13 by January 2020, and then adjusted annually for the cost of living. This is especially significant because Kansas City is the first Missouri municipality to pass a citywide minimum wage that is higher than the state level (now just $7.65).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2015
CONTACT: Bob Keener, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org, 617-610-6766

WASHINGTON, DC – Business owners are welcoming the minimum wage increases effective July 1 in Maryland, Washington, DC and Chicago. They say the increases will boost the consumer spending that drives job creation, and that businesses will benefit from lower employee turnover and increased productivity, product quality and customer satisfaction.

Stronger Minimum Wage is Good for Business and the Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2015
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Eileen Fisher, Ben and Jerry’s, Zingerman’s Among First Signers On New Business Petition For Higher Minimum Wage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2015
Contact: Bob Keener, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org, 617-610-6766
Holly Sklar, holly@businessforafairminimumwage.org, 617-522-2923

Washington DC – Business owners applauded the planned introduction today of new legislation to raise the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck since 2009 at $7.25 an hour – just $15,080 a year for fulltime work. Business for a Fair Minimum Wage is launching a new sign-on statement for business owners and executives supporting a gradual increase to $12 by 2020 to benefit business and the economy.

For Immediate Release: March 2, 2015
Contact Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Harrisburg, PA – Business owners from across the commonwealth today released statements praising Governor Tom Wolf’s goal to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. They have signed, and many others are signing, an online business statement which calls for a phased increase of Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to at least $10.10 per hour. In addition, the business statement calls for annual adjustments so the minimum wage keeps up with the cost of living.

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.