House Speaker Robert DeLeo had previously discussed in broad terms under what conditions he would support a raise in the state’s minimum wage.
And in an address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, he spelled out those details, which remained true to his prior statements that any minimum-wage hike must be tied to unemployment-insurance relief.
DeLeo’s proposal would increase the state’s minimum wage from the current $8 to $10.50 an hour over three years. Restaurant and bar employees’ wages would rise to $3.75 per hour from the current $3 per hour. He characterized the House’s initiative as a “careful balancing act” that helps workers at the bottom of the wage scale without stifling job growth.
The speaker’s plan differs from the Senate’s bill, which boosts the minimum wage to $11 an hour over the same time period, ties subsequent increases to inflation and addresses the unemployment-insurance issue in separate legislation.
Of course, the final House bill must be reconciled with Senate version before it goes to the governor.
But on all three counts, we believe the House bill would better serve the state’s employees and employers.
There are other currents in play here that our Legislature can’t ignore.
Losing jobs to border states paying lower wages must be a concern to our local lawmakers. That’s why it’s interesting to see that the New Hampshire House voted this week to raise its minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour over two years.
Passing along party lines in the House, that bill now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate.
On the national level, President Barack Obama has got behind increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.
We understand some adjustment in the state’s minimum wage is necessary. Proponents point out that it hasn’t been increased since 2008.
We agree it should be raised gradually, and support the way House Speaker Robert DeLeo would accomplish it.
However, we’re disappointed the speaker didn’t include language that reduced the state’s term for jobless benefits from 30 to 26 weeks, the current national standard.
That’s a fight for another day.