Mass. speaker calls for hike in minimum wage

BOSTON (AP) — The state’s minimum wage would rise to $10.50 per hour over three years but would not be automatically adjusted for inflation under a proposal unveiled Thursday by a top Massachusetts lawmaker.

In a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, also said the plan for increasing the minimum wage would be linked to changes designed to offer relief for businesses from high unemployment insurance rates.