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Cambridge officials looking at raising minimum wage to $15 per hour

By Kathryn Burcham
By Kathryn Burcham

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Cambridge city leaders are studying the possibility of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Fox 25 learned some businesses have already started raising employees' wages, like Clover Food Lab, a farm-to-table fast casual restaurant chain.

"We're making little increases to prices on the menu, and we are timing those to increases with our pay," said Clover owner Ayr Muir.

Muir said employees at his six restaurants and seven food trucks earn $10 to $16 an hour, and he plans to continue raising their wages.

"For us to be able to deliver beautiful food, I think we should be able to pay people so that they're not at a poverty level while working," Muir told FOX25.

Clover Food Lab employee Cristina Nichols said she has worked at several other restaurants and found it impossible to make a living earning minimum wage.

"I was overworked, underpaid and underfed," Nichols said. "Now, I'm able to earn a living and not be too stressed."

Cambridge city councilor Nadeem Mazen said he wants other businesses to emulate Clover Food Lab's payment model.
Mazen and other city council members have been studying the possibility of making it a permit requirement for businesses to pay employees a $15 minimum wage, citywide.

"It's a matter of our own economic growth to have a decent living wage," Mazen said.

Mazen said the city is also supporting legislation that is currently in committee at the state house that would allow cities to set their own minimum wage by ordinance.

"Most businesses as they talk with are saying, 'Our employees are asking and begging us for a $15 dollar minimum wage'," Mazen told FOX25.

Mazen said it would likely be three to six months before Cambridge city council would vote on the minimum wage requirement.

Cox Media Group

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