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May 25, 2006 - During this week’s budget deliberations, Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) and his Senate colleagues unanimously passed a crucial amendment to give our minimum wage workers equitable pay, marking the state’s commitment to fairly compensate low-wage workers. After five years without an adjustment, the amendment moves to raise the minimum wage from $6.75 per hour to $8.25 per hour over two years and fix the wage to inflation thereafter.
“These hard-working employees deserve to receive fair wages to deal with the rising cost of living in our state, said Senator Moore. “This week, the Massachusetts Senate recognized their struggles and committed to improving their way of life by increasing minimum wage.”
Sponsored by State Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton), the Senate amendment reinforces the effort put forth by Representative James J. Marzilli (D-Arlington on House Bill 3782.
“Every year, inflation drives down the value of paychecks for low-wage workers,” said Senator Pacheco. “A year’s worth of full-time work at the minimum wage earned $14,040 in 2001 and earns $14,040 today. With the escalation of the cost of living, that simply is not enough to live in this state. It’s time these people be treated fairly.”
According to a recent analysis by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 38,400 workers in Senator Moore’s region would be positively impacted by an increase in the minimum wage, while a total of 486,000 hardworking individuals statewide would see benefits. Raising the Massachusetts minimum wage to $8.25 per hour would mean a raise of $3,000 per year for workers such as child care providers, health care aides, security guards and janitors.
“Raising the minimum wage is of particular concern to the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women,” said Barbara Gutman, Legislative Director. “Over 60% of those earning minimum wage in the Commonwealth are women and a large majority of those women live in poverty, they deserve the opportunity to earn a decent living.”
Yolanda Ostolaza, a Neighbor to Neighbor member from Springfield who works for the minimum wage at a local grocery store, said that, “I’m so excited that the Senate passed this increase. Currently, I live in a one bedroom apartment with my daughter where we have to share a bed. I need braces for my daughter and eyeglasses for myself and I can’t afford them. A higher minimum wage that’s indexed to the cost of living will give me the opportunity to come closer to making ends meet.”
“Thousands of adults are working two to three minimum wage jobs to make ends meet and put food on the table,” said Carl Nilsson of Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts, a grassroots organization fighting for low-income families who is chairing the statewide campaign. “We have people leaving the state because they can’t afford to live here. This minimum wage increase will make living in Massachusetts more affordable for low wage workers and give them the opportunity to raise their families here.”
Members of the Coalition for Social Justice expressed their gratitude for “the Senate’s swift action to improve the quality of life” for minimum wage workers and the National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter, applauded Senator Pacheco and the entire Senate for their action today in passing the budget amendment.
“People who work hard and play by the rules should not have to live on poverty level wages,” said Rebekah Gewirtz, NASW’s Director of Governmental Affairs. “Raising the minimum wage to $8.25 and indexing it to inflation will give nearly 500,000 struggling low wage workers the opportunity to better support their families.” Additionally, she noted, “the majority of minimum wage workers are adults, many of whom are heading up their household, which is why raising the minimum wage now is so critically important.”
For more information on the FY 2007 Senate budget, log onto Senator Moore’s website at
www.senatormoore.com/budget
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