Labor & Industry Acting Secretary, Rep. Conklin, Centre County Pastor urge minimum wage increase

HARRISBURG, PA – Department of Labor & Industry Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier joined Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Philipsburg) and Centre County Pastor Craig Rose to call for increasing the commonwealth’s minimum wage to $12 an hour with a pathway to $15 an hour.

“It’s time to ensure that the hardworking frontline workers that look after our children, stock our grocery store shelves and care for our loved ones earn a living wage,” said Acting Secretary Berrier. “It’s unconscionable that the workers we’ve all relied on during this pandemic, people who have put their health at risk to provide vital services, often struggle to afford basic necessities themselves. Too many of these workers make less than $15 an hour, and it’s beyond time that all hardworking Pennsylvanians earn a fair, livable wage.”

A release from the state said Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour with a pathway to $15 by 2027 will boost incomes for nearly 1.1 million workers and put $4.4 billion into the pockets of Pennsylvania workers in the first year. These workers will stimulate local economies in Pennsylvania through spending, with a minimum wage increase to $15 boosting Pennsylvania’s economy by $321 million in 2027.

“Pennsylvania is among one of the last states along the eastern seaboard to increase its minimum wage, and it’s long overdue,” said state Rep. Conklin. “By raising our minimum wage, we can help workers better provide for their families and help them make ends meet. Way too many of our workers have full-time jobs at the current $7.25 an hour and can’t pay their bills or adequately put food on the table. That’s not right, and they deserve better. Making this long overdue boost also increases business productivity and decreases turnover – it’s a win/win for everyone.”

“I care deeply about raising the minimum wage because I have seen the struggles of those in my congregation working long, hard hours at minimum wage jobs just trying to survive,” said Pastor Craig Rose. “These men and women can’t get ahead while only making poverty wages – nor do they have the time and/or money to get training, or to find, apply, and interview for better paying jobs.”

Central PA United works to build a multi-racial movement for long-term change around issues that impact poor and working people: real police reform, affordable housing, increasing the minimum wage, and diversifying local government. Central PA United is a chapter of Pennsylvania United, which builds membership-based chapters in small cities and towns across Western PA.

Findings from the Keystone Research Center show those who would benefit from a $15 minimum wage include:

• 64 percent of restaurant workers;
• 38 percent of retail workers;
• 26 percent of agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining workers; and
• 18 percent of health care and social assistance workers.

Since the last time the minimum wage was increased, its purchasing power has dropped by nearly 17 percent.