There's some room for negotiation over Massachusetts' minimum wage. That's the word from business leaders who want the increase coupled with changes to the unemployment insurance system.
The Massachusetts Senate earlier this month passed legislation gradually raising the state's minimum wage to $11 an hour. As Speaker Robert DeLeo weighs what the House will do, business leaders are lobbying him to include some business-friendly changes to the bill.
Massachusetts High Technology Council president Christopher Anderson met with DeLeo on Monday.
“The speaker has previously signaled his interest in reforming the unemployment insurance system," he said. "Ultimately, what the house decides to pursue will be up to them and that won’t happen until early next year.”
For his part, Anderson would like to see two major changes to the unemployment insurance system. He wants to lower the duration of benefits from 30 weeks to 26 weeks, and require workers to be employed for longer before they become eligible for benefits.
