By Barb Berggoetz
Indianapolis Star, April 28, 2014
A couple of local employers talked about how raising their workers' pay above the current minimum wage has attracted better-quality employees. Employees making low wages spoke about working two jobs and struggling to make ends meet. It was all part of a rally Monday to support an increase in the federal minimum wage. The rally was spurred by a stop on Monument Circle by a national bus tour organized by Americans United for Change. ...
Aaron Schaler, who has ownership rights for Pizza King in Indianapolis, said he decided to increase his employees' wages after Obama urged Congress to raise the minimum wage in his State of the Union address in January. ...
Ryan Puckett, a representative of RecycleForce, said his organization raised its minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for its hourly staff, consisting of 125 ex-offenders. Those already earning $10 or higher got a $1 per hour increase.
Puckett said the step is right for families, as well as for businesses. RecycleForce's production has gone up since it offered the raises. ...
Chaneice Coleman, Indianapolis, a mother of two young boys, is one of those workers who thinks the minimum wage should be increased. She's been working full time at McDonald's for four years and gets $7.50 an hour. She recently had to get a second job at Steak n Shake, and now she's looking for a third job.
"It took me six months to save enough money to buy my kids shoes," she said. "I'm backed up on so many bills right now."
Carolyn Lazzell, Brownstown, a home health care worker who is paid $8.80 per hour, feels so strongly about the issue that she is circulating petitions to encourage Congress to take action. ...
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