NFIB: Opposing a $15 Minimum Wage

Date: May 02, 2018

 

On Tuesday, April 10, small business owners packed the Press Room of the Omni Parker House to participate in Small Business Day. The standing-room-only crowd met in Boston to learn about the issues impacting their small business, interact with legislators, and hear from Governor Baker. Those in attendance voiced their frustrations and stressed the point that many of the proposals on the table in the Legislature—such as a $15 per hour minimum wage hike, paid family and medical leave, and the income tax surcharge on pass-through businesses—will mean they have to cut jobs, raise prices, or shut down their businesses.

“As an owner of a small and very new restaurant and two package stores, I am very much concerned with the ballot questions involving payroll,” said NFIB member Kristie Faufaw, owner of Cold River Café and Restaurant, Cold River Package and Market, and Ryan and Casey Liquors. “So I went to Boston to attend the Small Business Day to hear what the Labor and Workforce Development Committee working on this bill had to say about how it would be implemented and to see if they had even thought of how it would affect our businesses across Massachusetts. The most important thing I learned was that the committee needs and wants to hear from more of us. They need real projections and numbers from us. They need to hear just as many heartbreaking testimonials as the proponents are giving them.”

Small Business Day was a joint effort of NFIB/MA and six other business groups: the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Package Stores Association, Massachusetts Food Association, and the Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. All came together to promote the contribution made by Massachusetts small businesses and discuss the major issues facing them. The program opened with an overview of issues like the $15 minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, and an income tax surcharge on pass-through businesses.

NFIB/MA State Director Christopher Carlozzi moderated a forum discussion that included five legislators from the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development: Senator Jason Lewis, Representative Paul Brodeur, Representative Keiko Orrall, Representative Joe McKenna, and Representative Aaron Vega. Small business owners expressed to committee members their frustrations with mounting labor costs and barriers to growing their business.

Governor Charlie Baker ended the program with remarks on small business initiatives in Massachusetts and encouraged participants to meet with their elected officials at the State House. He stressed the importance of thriving, vibrant Main Streets comprised of small businesses.

 Following the program, guests had an opportunity to speak with staff from the Division of Unemployment Assistance and the Executive Office ofn Labor and Workforce Development regarding the new MassHealth assessment. Many small business owners ended the day by visiting their elected officials at the State House to discuss what they learned about ever-increasing labor costs and the impact on their small business.

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