PRT and the Fair Wage Initiative – The Presidents’ RoundTable shows support for raising the minimum wage in Maryland

With minimum wage standing as a hot button issue for the nation as a whole and for individual states, The Presidents’ RoundTable (PRT) and Maryland Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy joined together to hold a press conference in Annapolis, Maryland prior to the Maryland House Committee Hearing on February 11 to show their full support of President Obama’s $10.10 Minimum Wage Initiative. Just as important, The Presidents’ RoundTable was there to support the Maryland HB187 Initiative, sponsored by Delegate Braveboy, and supported by 72 other members of the House of Delegates, and HB295, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s initiative.

Sheila Brooks, President of The Presidents’ RoundTable gave her testimony before the Maryland General Assembly during a jam packed House Committee Hearing, where more than 100 business owners, community leaders, politicians and workers showed up to be heard.

Brooks expressed the importance of raising the minimum wage, and why PRT supports the three initiatives. “Maryland has followed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 since 2006 even though inflation and cost of living increases have reduced its purchasing power. Let me be clear; this is not a political issue. This is a human rights issue,” Brooks said during her testimony. She also told legislators that PRT will be leading the way, agreeing to pay all of the more than 1200 employees comprised of 19 PRT companies the minimum wage of $10.10 an hour by 2015.