Senate Weighing Hike In State Minimum Wage
BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Senate is considering raising the state's minimum wage from $8 per hour to $11 by 2016 and tying subsequent increases to inflation.
The bill, backed by Senate President Therese Murray, would increase the wage for the state's lowest-paid workers in increments over the next three years.
After 2016, future increases would be linked to the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast.
The state's minimum wage has not changed since 2008 and isn't automatically adjusted for inflation.
The legislation would also require the state's minimum wage always be at least 50 cents higher than the federal minimum, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
A group backing a proposed ballot question to increase the state's minimum wage said Monday it had collected more than enough signatures to put the measure on next year's ballot if lawmakers fail to act.
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