By John Guice
jguice@abc6news
The New year will bring in a bit of prosperity for thousands of minimum wage workers in Rhode Island, about a thirty–five cent increase to hit on New Year's day.
The minimum wage of seven dollars and forty cents will rise to seven dollars and seventy–five cents
an hour. Many workers are excited about the increase saying, it will help families who are struggling. One worker telling ABC6, "You really can't make living, even if you're a teenager, trying to live off of 6 or 7 dollars an hour, after taxes and everything". Michael Manni, owner of LaSalle bakery says he's happy to see workers get the increase, but it will have a negative impact on small business owners.Manni says,
"It's definitely going to affect the bottom line, it's not going to break us but everything that we buy goes up and our prices have to reflect that.
The minimum wage increase will go into effect January the first,no matter what develops with the fiscal cliff.If a deal does not go through,the minimum wage increase will become a wash because wage earners may have to pay more in taxes. And, that's in the hands of congress.
