For Immediate Release

House Votes to Raise Minimum Wage to $8 an Hour

(Boston) – The Massachusetts House of Representatives moved this week to make the state’s minimum wage one of the highest in the country, increasing it from $6.75 to $8 an hour, State Rep. John P. Fresolo (D-Worcester) announced.   This initiative represents just one in a series of actions the House has taken to help the Commonwealth’s working families.

“I am extremely proud of the House’s record in support of working families across the state,” said Rep. Fresolo.  “From making health insurance affordable to funding workforce training programs, we have not wavered in our commitment to giving people the tools they need to enhance their lives.  An increase in the minimum wage will assist close to half a million workers who have been struggling to make ends meet for too long.”

A minimum wage hike was last approved in 2001.  The House bill proposes increasing the rate to $7.25 an hour in October 2006, to $7.75 in October 2007, and to $8.00 in October 2008.  At that level, it would be one of the three most generous rates in the country, with only Washington state and Oregon being slightly higher.

“Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to create a minimum wage 94 years ago,” said Rep. Fresolo.  “The House’s legislation is in keeping with a proud tradition of ensuring that our workers are duly compensated for a hard day’s work.”