Press Releases

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”

These business owners know that wages drive consumer demand and consumer demand drives our economy. They are urging action to raise the minimum wage and boost America now.

"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

Minimum Wage Increase Would Inject $33 Billion into the Economy, Increasing Consumer Purchasing Power

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2014
CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

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

Business Owners and Organization Leaders Attend Signing Ceremony

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

WASHINGTON DC, April 30, 2014 – Today, Senators who voted against advancing a bill to raise the minimum wage were not reflecting the views of the American people who polls show strongly support a raise nor the views of businesses large and small across the country that have expressed strong support for an increase.

Business Owners Speak at Capitol Hill Event with Senators Harkin, Blumenthal and Stabenow and Deliver Signatures to Senate Offices

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

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

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

Representing Many More Businesses Across the Country Who Support Minimum Wage Hike

WASHINGTON DC, April 3, 2014  – Representing a large and growing number of businesses nationwide who support a minimum wage increase, Gina Schaefer, owner of nine Ace Hardware stores in DC and Maryland, spoke at a Capitol Hill event today with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and other members of Congress and national leaders. Yesterday, another member of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, Paul Saginaw, hosted President Obama for lunch at his deli Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor.