NORFOLK VA. National Restaurant Association, several other industries and many business owners oppose raising the federal minimum wage, but a recent survey indicates that hourly workers in the United States favor an increase, even if it means co-workers may lose their jobs and consumers would pay more for products and services as a result. —The
The Employment Guide, a publication of Dominion Enterprises, said half of 500 surveyed hourly workers across several industries said they would favor an increase in the federal minimum wage even if it meant a co-worker would lose his or her job. —The
Nearly two-thirds indicated that they would favor a wage increase even if it resulted in higher consumer prices for goods and services. —The
President George W. Bush recently signed legislation that raises the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $5.85 this summer. The wage will increase to $6.55 per hour one year later, and then to $7.25 per hour one year after that. —The
