Massachusetts Senate To Revisit Minimum Wage Hike

The state Senate is set to again take up a proposed increase in the minimum wage in an effort to break a procedural logjam with the House over the issue.

Senators are expected Thursday to debate a bill that would raise the minimum wage from $8 to $11 per hour over three years, while tying future increases to the rate of inflation.

The bill also calls for business-friendly changes in the state's unemployment insurance system.

The Senate previously approved both the minimum wage and unemployment insurance measures, but as separate bills. Combining them into a single package would facilitate the start of negotiations with the House over the minimum wage.

The House proposal seeks a three-year increase in the hourly minimum wage to $10.50, but without indexing hikes to inflation.