by Alex Lloyd Gross
For the past 15 years, the Pennsylvania State Legislature has refused to budge on raising the minimum wage. It is $7.25/hr. Still. That means that your billion dollar a year employer can legally exploit your services by paying you $7.25/hr. There have been attempts to raise it but in the past, the House Of Representatives, led by Mike Turzai and Jim Cox, (who was the Labor Secretary at the time) refused to even consider the issue.
Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Bucks County Republican KC Tomlinson voted in favor of a minimum wage increase.
They did consider themselves several years ago and gave themselves a cost of living raise each year which makes them some of the highest paid law makers in the United States. The senate did pass a bill to raise it to $9.50per hour in 2018 but that bill died in the house, due to Turzai and Cox. In 2023 the house, now run by democrats got their bill passed with some republicans, like Bucks County Rep KC Tomlinson voting in favor. Unfortunately, the senate is under republican control and refuses to take up the matter.
There is no greater bill of importance, than to put more money into your constituents pockets. Some republicans, like Dan Lauughlin have come out in favor of a raise. However, the leadership, now fat on their COLA increase, refuses to discuss it.again. Without them putting it to a vote, it goes nowhere.
Governor Josh Shapiro said that he will sign that bill in a heartbeat, To put things in perspective, The forwards thinking legislatures in ALL neighboring states have enacted laws to raise their minimum wage. New Jersey will go to $15.00/hr by Jan 1, 2024. Delaware workers will get $13.75/hr. Maryland is going to $15.00 on a fast track. Even Ohio and West Virginia are paying more than Pennsylvania. Every single state that borders this state is doing right by workers. Howeverl,the republican lead senate in PA say they have more important things to discuss, as they get their COLA increases Let’s put this in perspective. The legislators are getting paid more than $100,000 per year. Leadership rakes in $150.000/year. The person sweeping floors in the office building might get $8.00/hr if they are lucky, in some areas.
Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo-Delaware Valley News.com State Rep Jason Dawkins is the Labor and Industry Chairman. He has no time for the excuses for not raising the wage.
All of the excuses used to stymie the wage have been proven to be false. If anyone says these things, they are lying to their constituents. Let’s look at this. It will kill jobs- There are constant HELP WANTED signs all over. Some places are paying over $15.00hr and cannot find workers. Prices will rise. Prices skyrocketed this year. with the employers able to pay $7.25/hr .It’s not the employees pay causing this. and the biggest fear is that small businesses will go under. That’s not true either. One just has to drive across the bridge to New Jersey to see all of the small businesses that are opening up and paying $15.00/hr.. There are no more excuses.
California is taking the minimum wage issue to the extreme by discriminating against certain workers. You mop floors all day for $16.00 in a hospital. Your friend cooks french fries will have to get paid $20.00/hr. All fast food workers must get $20.00/hr, while everyone else gets a $16.00. It;s equivalent to a pay cut… Pizza Hut will not have any more delivery drivers in California,opting for gig workers like Uber Eats and Grub Hub where those workers will earn more than $20.00/hr. .
State Rep Jason Dawkins who is Labor and Industry Committee Chairman in the PA House said he is hopeful in 2024 the senate will take up the issue and move on it. Workers in Pennsylvania making less than $13.00/hr are on welfare .. Paying them a living wage takes them off public assistance and that money can go towards infrastructure.