HARRISBURG, PA — A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, union leaders, and workers gathered in the state capital on Monday, May 5, to demand that Pennsylvania lawmakers act after nearly two decades of inaction on minimum wage reform. The rally, held in the shadow of a rainy Capitol, called for swift movement on long-stalled legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage, which continues to lag behind all neighboring states and remains the federal floor of $7.25 per hour.
“It’s time! We must raise the wage,” said state Representative Roni Green, D-Phila., author of House Bill 1150, which proposes a phased increase to a $15-per-hour minimum wage by January 1, 2026. “We know we have to raise our voices, and rain doesn’t stop us. Our six neighboring states have raised the wage, and if lawmakers don’t know how they can vote for this, maybe they should visit one of our neighboring states to find out.”
Key Legislation to Address Wage Inequality
Rep. Green’s bill, H.B. 1150, reflects growing momentum to rectify Pennsylvania’s outdated minimum wage policy. The proposed legislation would gradually increase the hourly minimum wage over the next two years and link future adjustments to inflation. Pennsylvania remains the only state in the Northeast to maintain the federal minimum wage of $7.25, an amount critics say traps full-time workers in poverty.
Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila., spoke passionately about the necessity of the measure. “The people making the minimum wage, it is not teenagers in summer jobs. It’s people that look like me: women that are raising children, that are heads of households. It is insane that we are telling them to work and be poor, but that is exactly what we are doing,” she asserted.
A similar bill in the Senate, S.B. 19, sponsored by Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione, D-Phila., aims to complement the effort in the House. Tartaglione, a longtime advocate for wage increases, emphasized the urgency in her remarks. “Enough is enough; for 19 years, Pennsylvania workers have been told to wait, to work harder, to stretch that dollar that doesn’t stretch anymore. It’s been 6,876 days since we raised the wage. That’s a disgrace.”
Pennsylvania’s Place in the National Landscape
The push to raise wages in Pennsylvania starkly contrasts with policies in neighboring states, all of which have enacted higher minimum wages. New Jersey’s current minimum wage stands at $14.13 per hour, while New York’s reaches $15 in many areas. Maryland, Ohio, Delaware, and West Virginia have all surpassed Pennsylvania’s stagnant rate, which hasn’t seen an increase since 2009.
House Majority Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie, noted the economic ripple effects of failing to act. He highlighted that, although many small businesses already provide higher starting wages, codifying the increase would safeguard workers’ rights. “Although the majority of our small business owners pay more than the $7.25 minimum wage, we need to enact this law so wages cannot be rolled back, and workers are ensured the right of a fair wage,” Bizzarro stated.
Economic Impact on Workers and Business
Economists and labor advocacy groups argue that raising the minimum wage would stimulate the state’s economy by giving low-income workers more spending power. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis echoed this sentiment, urging Senate Republicans to take action. “The governor and I have included raising the wage in every budget we have presented since we have been in office. Now is the time to get it across the finish line,” Davis remarked.
The rally also featured testimony from diverse stakeholders, such as Andrea Grove, owner of Elementary Coffee Co., who underscored the importance of fair wages in creating sustainable local businesses. “We’re supposed to be the leader on the East Coast,” said Rob Bair, president of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades. “Why in the hell are we stuck for this many years at this wage? It’s a sin!”
Overcoming Legislative Hurdles
While the state House previously passed a minimum wage increase during the 2023-24 legislative session, the bill stalled in the Senate. Advocates hope that the rally’s renewed energy will push the current proposals forward by amplifying the voices of those most affected.
“We are standing in solidarity because it’s long overdue that we raise the minimum wage,” McClinton said. “This movement isn’t about politics. It’s about ensuring dignity and economic stability for every Pennsylvanian.”
Looking Ahead
The fight to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage reflects broader national debates on economic equity and labor rights. With the proposed legislation now in committee, advocates are optimistic but cautious, given prior setbacks. Whether these bills can advance to a decisive Senate vote will determine whether Pennsylvania workers can finally receive a long-awaited raise.
Legislators, workers, and advocates are united in their commitment to this cause. Supporters believe that achieving wage reform is not merely an economic issue but a moral imperative. The coming weeks will be pivotal in shaping a path toward economic fairness across the state.
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