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Health & Fitness

Massachusetts Senate Passes Minimum Wage Increase

The Massachusetts Senate voted Tuesday in favor of a proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage to $11 an hour over the next three years. The bill also increases wages for tipped workers to 50 percent of the minimum wage and included a provision to tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index. 

“This wage increase is long overdue for all of the employees in the Commonwealth who are working full time on a minimum wage and still unable to provide for themselves and their families,” said Senator Donnelly. “Ensuring our residents are able to earn a living wage will stimulate our economy while supporting hardworking employees as well as businesses.” 

The language in the Senate version of the bill would raise the minimum wage on July 1, 2014 from $8 to $9 an hour. The wage would increase again to $10 on July 1, 2015 and finally to $11 on July 1, 2016. The debate was centered on the minimum wage bill that was released last Thursday from Senate Ways and Means with few amendments adopted before the final roll call of 32 to 7 in favor of passing the bill.

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“The action taken today by the Senate is the first step in rebuilding and strengthening our middle class and I look forward to seeing this important proposal move quickly through the legislature,” said Senator Donnelly.

The final bill passed by the Senate will now move to the House of Representatives for debate.

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