Massachusetts

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts) Fri Jun 27, 2014, 06:38 AM Jun 2014

Patrick signs Mass. minimum wage hike: $9/hr on Jan. 1. $11 by 2017

http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20140626/NEWS/140627272/1994/NEWS

Patrick signs Mass. minimum wage hike: $9/hr on Jan. 1. $11 by 2017

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a law raising the state’s $8 per hour minimum wage to $11 per hour — a high among U.S. states — by 2017.

Patrick told a Statehouse ceremony on Thursday that the new law would provide some relief to low-income workers, while noting it would still not be a “livable wage” for many Massachusetts residents.

The first increase in the minimum wage, to $9 an hour, will take effect on Jan. 1.

Activists had gathered some 350,000 signatures around the state to put a minimum wage increase on the ballot had the law not been passed.

4 replies

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Patrick signs Mass. minimum wage hike: $9/hr on Jan. 1. $11 by 2017 (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2014 OP

Yay! MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #1

Maybe he'll run. Agschmid Jun 2014 #4

While I appreciate the Governor's efforts, it is a long way until 2017. Paper Roses Jun 2014 #2

Agreed! This min. wage hike is a joke for MA Blaukraut Jun 2014 #3

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)

1. Yay!

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 06:44 AM

Jun 2014

DLC Deval seems to have turned into a Liberal these days, it's been good to watch.

A couple of wins this week; first Coakley gets smacked down and casino repeal gets on the ballot, now this.

Agschmid

(28,749 posts)

4. Maybe he'll run.

Reply to MannyGoldstein (Reply #1)

Sat Jun 28, 2014, 05:29 PM

Jun 2014

Paper Roses

(7,506 posts)

2. While I appreciate the Governor's efforts, it is a long way until 2017.

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 03:30 PM

Jun 2014

Eleven dollars an hour is still not a real living wage. One may get by on this figure but there will be no extras. I am a senior and live on SS. This is tough enough but my kids are grown, I am alone and I have learned to juggle my bills. If I had children at home, I know I could never survive on $11.00 an hour, even now. 2017--give me a break. Can you imagine what everything will cost by then?
My sympathy to all who struggle in this mean would.
In this case, the time frame is too long for those who are trying their best. The increase will be a pittance per year.

Blaukraut

(5,911 posts)

3. Agreed! This min. wage hike is a joke for MA

Reply to Paper Roses (Reply #2)

Fri Jun 27, 2014, 06:56 PM

Jun 2014

The cost of living here is so high that $11/hr (and that's not until 2017) is more like a slap in the face. It should have been $15/hr by 2017 with an immediate hike to $11. And if we want to be completely honest here, even that doesn't constitute a living wage. Still, we take what we can get, I suppose.

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