Clergy Members Push For Minimum Wage Increase

A group representing clergy from around the state is urging lawmakers to agree on a bill that not only raises the minimum wage but also ties future increases in the wage to inflation.

Massachusetts Faith Voices met Thursday with representatives of House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray and delivered a letter signed by 344 religious leaders of several faiths.

The Senate has approved a hike in the state's $8 per hour minimum wage to $11 per hour over three years and includes automatic cost-of-living adjustments in the future.

The House bill increases the wage to $10.50 per hour by 2016 but does not index to inflation.

The clergy also called for raising the minimum wage for workers who earn tips to at least 50 percent of the minimum wage for other workers. (Associated Press)