By Sylvester Brown Jr.
St. Louis American, October 31, 2024
“I built my businesses on a belief in the American Dream, and that includes paying people fairly so they can make a living.” Joe Edwards, the owner of Blueberry Hill restaurant and music club, the Moonrise Hotel, The Pageant and other University City businesses is one of the 500 businesses in the Missouri Business for a Healthy Economy coalition urging voters to vote “yes” on Proposition A. ...
The business coalition says raising the minimum wage and enabling workers to earn paid sick time will “boost consumer spending, reduce costly employee turnover, increase productivity, and strengthen Missouri’s workforce, businesses and economy.”
In a statement released by the alliance, Edwards added that Prop A will make Missouri’s businesses and communities “stronger and healthier.”
“Investing in employees has paid off in thriving hospitality businesses serving a growing number of new customers and repeat customers over decades,” Edwards said.
“Raising the purchasing power of low-wage workers by raising the minimum wage drives a virtuous economic cycle that leads to local business growth and hiring.”
Tameka Stigers, owner of Locs of Glory in the 5800 block of Delmar Blvd. agrees.
“I am in support of increasing the minimum wage; prices are going up all around us. So, we need to pay our workers a fair wage,” Stigers said, adding: “I’ve been paying our workers above $15 per hour so, it’s not going to impact my business.” ...
“People are not going to stick around a job where they’re not being adequately compensated for your time, energy and efforts,” Stigers stressed. ...