By Isaiah J. Poole
Our Future Blog: June 27, 2016

While national pizza chains like Domino’s and Papa John’s have been targeted by Fight for 15 protests around the country because of their low wages and allegations of wage theft, a Washington, D.C.-based pizza entrepreneur has made his chain a champion of the $15-an-hour minimum wage. Michael Lastoria is the owner of the 15-store &pizza chain, and one of his shops will be the site Monday evening of a ceremonial signing of legislation that will increase the minimum wage in the District of Columbia to...

Nashville Post, June 24, 2016

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, the founder and CEO of Nashville-based LetterLogic, has been honored at the White House for her efforts advocating for a fair pay business model.

A member of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, Deutschmann received a Champion of Change award, which honors people who have shown “extraordinary leadership on important issues impacting their communities and the nation.”

“Our entire business model was built on my belief that I could build a better company if I took extraordinary care of the employees,” Deutschmann said in a release.

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By Jamie McGee
The Tennessean, June 23, 2016

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, founder and CEO of Nashville company LetterLogic, has been named a White House Champion of Change for her leadership on fair pay issues and will be honored Thursday.

Deutschmann founded patient billing company LetterLogic in 2002 and has made valuing employees a cornerstone of her company from the start. Workers, many of whom operate machines in the company's Wedgewood-Houston facility, share profits, and wages start at $16 an hour, more than double the federal minimum wage.

“Our entire business model was built on my belief that I could build a better...

By Josh Givens
Logan Daily News, June 23, 2016

LOGAN — Following the release of a new report detailing millions of struggling workers, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown outlined an agenda to help strengthen the middle class. ... During a conference call on Wednesday, Brown also stated that nearly one-third of the Ohio workforce earns less than $12 an hour, and one half of Ohio workers earn less than $15 an hour. ...

Joining Brown was Gary Johnson; a Toledo business owner who discussed how providing good wages and benefits to his employees is helping his business succeed.

In...

By Eric Snyder
Nashville Business Journal, June 23, 2016

Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, the well-known founder of Nashville-based LetterLogic, will be honored at the White House today for her efforts championing a higher minimum wage.

According to a news release, Stewart Deutschmann will be honored as a Champion of Change.

As we reported recently, increasing the minimum wage has been a long-time focus for Stewart Deutschmann, who spoke about the issue to members of the U.S. House of Representatives in April.

LetterLogic is a medical bill servicing company, with the bulk of its employees working in...

Op-Ed By Keith Mestrich
The Hill, June 22, 2016

Washington, D.C. just took a bold step toward giving our hard-working families a brighter future.

By supporting a District-wide $15 minimum wage, the City Council and Mayor Bowser have empowered the people of D.C. and given them a real chance for a better life. No hardworking family or individual should be working full-time and still struggling to keep a roof over their head and food in their children’s mouths fed. 

We joined other D.C. businesses, labor unions and community organizations in supporting the District-wide $15 minimum...

By Kara Driscoll
Dayton Daily News, June 22, 2016

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown has a message for lawmakers: “Pay Ohio workers more.” Following the release of a report on low-wage jobs, Brown renewed his call to raise the federal minimum wage. ... 

During a news conference call today, Brown joined Gary Johnson, an Ohio business owner who said providing fair wages and benefits to employees has helped his business grow. Johnson is president and CEO of American Floors and Interiors, located in Toledo.

“When you take care of your staff, they’re more able to take care of their customers,” Johnson said. ...

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By Jonathan Maze
Nation's Restaurant News, June 8, 2016

It’s one thing to love your job. It’s another to love your job so much that you’re willing to have your company tattooed to your skin. But that is indeed what’s happened with &pizza, the fast growing, Washington DC-based pizza chain — where a company tattoo is a unique benefit. About 50 workers have the company’s ampersand logo somewhere on their person.

“It really started about four years ago, when I was working in the first pizza shop,” CEO Michael Lastoria said. “We just developed a strong...

CBS/AP
CBS News, MoneyWatch, June 7, 2016

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers in the nation's capital have approved a $15-an-hour minimum wage. That puts the District of Columbia alongside a number of other cities and the states of California and New York in mandating pay raises for retail, restaurant and service-industry workers.

The D.C. Council unanimously approved the wage increase, and Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has pledged to sign it when it reaches her desk, likely sometime this summer. The bill would raise the wage gradually until it hits $15 in 2020. After that, future increases would be tied to...

By Ryan M. McDermott
The Washington Times, June 7, 2016

D.C. officials, business owners and labor unions reached an agreement Tuesday to raise the District's minimum wage to $15 an hour, but some business advocacy groups said the legislation will likely kill jobs or force companies to move to Virginia. Under the agreement, the minimum wage — currently $10.50 per hour and scheduled to rise to $11.50 on July 1 — will increase to $15 by 2020. The wage will be linked to inflation and rise automatically after that. The minimum wage for tipped workers — currently $2.77 an hour — will grow to $5 per hour by 2022, with automatic increases linked to inflation thereafter. ...

But a coalition of city business owners, including Busboys and Poets restaurateur Andy Shallal, supported the $15 minimum wage measure.

By Megan Cloherty
WTOP, June 7, 2016

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Council on Tuesday approved a $15-an-hour minimum wage bill. Mayor Muriel Bowser has promised to sign the measure, which will raise the wage by 2020. ... Minimum wage workers in the District currently make $10.50. That rate will increase to $11.50 in July ...

“In addition we’ll have a tipped minimum wage that will increase to $5 in 2020. And thereafter, it will increase in pursuant to the Consumer Price Index,” said at-large Council member Vincent Orange before the vote. ...

“The fight for 15 is something we’ve been behind all along,”...

By Nick Twietmeyer, UW News Lab / Special to CHS
Capitol Hill Seattle, June 3, 2016

Slowly but surely, the concept of a tipless restaurant is gaining a foothold on Capitol Hill. It has been a year since Lionhead and the Renee Erickson trio of Bateau, Bar Mesuline, and General Porpoise ditched tips in favor of a service charge and flat hourly wages for their staff. Several of Seattle’s high profile restauranteurs have followed suit while others on Capitol Hill saythey are exploring the model. Some have cited Seattle’s $15 minimum wage law and concerns over a decrease in tipping as their rationale for the move. Capitol...

The Gourmet Retailer, May 25, 2016

As the minimum wage is debated around the country, MOM's Organic Market has decided to raise its minimum wage to $12 per hour. Scott Nash, founder/CEO of the natural food store, has long contended higher wages lead to increased morale and productivity, easier recruiting and higher retention.

"This is not an act of charity, but rather an investment," he said. "Without a doubt, our most valuable asset here at MOM's is our people."

Taking it to the Hill
Just last month, Nash testified on Capitol Hill at a forum held by...

By Adam H. Callaghan
Seattle Eater, May 25, 2016

In a win for workers this week, McDonald's and other large chains formally withdrew their lawsuit against Seattle's $15 minimum wage law. Represented by the International Franchise Association and supported by the National Restaurant Association, major fast food chains sued the City of Seattle last year. They sought to halt the section of Seattle's minimum wage law that put them on an accelerated pace to implement the new wage, well in advance of other businesses.

The disputed law took effect April 1, 2015, and requires companies with over 500 employees...