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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bkeener@asbcouncil.org

ASBC Statements in Support of Amazon's Pledge to Raise its Starting Wage and Lobby for a Federal Minimum Wage Increase

In response to Amazon's announcement that it will work with Congress to raise the federal minimum wage above its current rate of $7.25, the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) released statements supporting the move.

WASHINGTON

In response to Amazon's announcement that it will work with Congress to raise the federal minimum wage above its current rate of $7.25, the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) released statements supporting the move.

"We applaud Amazon for its plan to work with Congress to raise the federal minimum wage above $7.25. Other large companies have raised their own wages, but Amazon stands out as a leader for committing to push Congress to raise the minimum wage for all employees in America. A strong minimum wage boosts consumer demand, which starts a virtuous cycle of economic growth," said Hammad Atassi, CEO of ASBC.

Holly Sklar is CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage and serves on ASBC's Board of Directors. She said,"Amazon's moves to raise its entry pay to $15 and advocate for raising the federal minimum wage are big steps forward. All businesses, big and small, should pay a wage that workers can live on. It's way past time to raise the impoverishing $7.25 federal minimum wage, strengthen consumer demand, and help level the playing field among businesses."

ASBC and Business for a Fair Minimum Wage have sign-on statements for businesses to show their support of a strong federal minimum wage. ASBC's may be found here: https://bit.ly/2P6c3dk.

ASBC's report, The High-road Workplace: Route to a Sustainable Economy, describes the benefits of high-road employment practices and public policies, including a strong minimum wage. The report may be found here: https://asbcouncil.org/sites/default/files/asbc_building_the_high_road_....

The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) advocates for policy change and informs business owners, policymakers and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant, broadly prosperous, sustainable economy. Founded in 2009, its membership represents over 250,000 businesses in a wide range of industries.

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