For Immediate Release
May 25, 2006
Please Contact: Michael Bloom, 617-722-1650

Senate Unanimously Passes Minimum Wage Amendment 

BOSTON – During today’s budget deliberations, the Massachusetts Senate 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.    

“Raising the minimum wage makes a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of my constituents.” said Senator Barrios.  “With prices skyrocketing for housing, gas, and heating oil the hard working citizens of the Commonwealth need assistance now more than ever.”

According to a recent analysis by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, workers in Senator Barrios’s district 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.  

“Every year, inflation drives down the value of paychecks for low-wage workers,” said Senator Pacheco, sponsor of the amendment.  “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.” 

“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.” 

“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 the 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.”

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