Pennsylvania − May 20, 2019 − Advocates, lawmakers and state officials will participate in tours and a statewide day of action on Thursday, May 23rd with businesses that choose to pay their employees a living wage.
Pennsylvania’s minimum wage remains at a regional low of $7.25 per hour, the minimum still set by the federal government. The state is beyond due for an increase in this poverty-level wage.
According to a recent report from the Keystone Research Center, an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $12/hour on July 1, 2019 (as proposed by Governor Tom Wolf and members of the General Assembly as part of this year’s budget negotiations) would impact a total of 1.7 million Pennsylvania workers. More than 1.13 million would see a direct increase; 540,000 people who make slightly more than $12/hour would see their wages increase as payscales are adjusted upwards.
Despite a decade without a mandated increase from the state or federal government, business owners throughout Pennsylvania understand that a $7.25 wage is unacceptable and have taken it upon themselves to ensure that their workers are able to support themselves through full-time work. Those businesses are thriving.
Members of the press are invited to attend these tours and ask questions of the legislators and business owners. Tour stops include:
Harrisburg
2:00pm at Elementary Coffee
Broad Street Market, 1233 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17102
Pittsburgh
3:30pm at Bar Marco
2216 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Philadelphia
1:30pm at La Barberia
Suburban Station Concourse, 17th St. & JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Delaware County
5:00pm at Five Points Coffee Shop
47 Long Ln, Upper Darby, PA 19082
Chester County
3:00pm at Mabel’s BBQ
607 East Market St. West Chester, PA
Bucks County
1pm at Exact Solar
82 Walker Lane, Newtown PA 18940
Lancaster
11am at El Pueblito Mexican Restaurant
1027 Dillerville Rd., Dillerville Square, Lancaster
Follow along with the day of action on Twitter with #RealJobsRealPay
For more information on the urgent need to raise the minimum wage, visit realjobsrealpay.com
HARRISBURG, PA − June 27, 2018 − The PA Senate Dems filed the below cosponsorship memo this afternoon to combat the potential negative impacts of the SCOTUS ruling on Janus vs AFSCME today.
Here’s a statement from Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr.
Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Janus case is disappointing, and disheartening for the millions of middle class workers who depend on strong unions to advocate for them in the workplace. This ruling gives employers more leverage, and divides workers amongst themselves. While this is undoubtedly a setback for workers’ rights, it is not and cannot be a death knell for public sector unions. We must do more at the state level to protect the middle class and their rights in the workplace.
HARRISBURG, PA − June 22, 2018 − The Pennsylvania Senate passed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19 (House Bill 2121) by a vote of 47-2.
“In January, the Senate Democratic caucus outlined our priorities for the year and this budget puts the money where our mouths were,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “It makes major investments in education at every level, workforce development, health care and social justice. It’s the product of months of bipartisan work and compromise, and I’m proud to support a budget that so aptly reflects our values.”
Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Vincent Hughes noted that the budget restores the billion-dollar cuts to education funding under the administration of Gov. Tom Corbett. He added that he is hopeful investments in the people of the commonwealth continue to be of the highest priority.
“The increased investments to education, job and economic initiatives, social justice, and health care in this year’s budget are a testament to what happens when we work together and put the people first,” Senator Hughes said. “On a personal note, I am pleased this budget negotiation ended in a timely fashion and believe this is the foundation for future bipartisan budget negotiations.”
The Senate Democratic Caucus priorities in this budget focus on four categories: education, jobs and workforce development, social justice and health care. The budget incorporates major investments in those state programs, including:
- In education:
- $100 million increase in basic education (K-12 public schools)
- $20 million increase in Pre-K Counts program
- $30 million increase in career and technical education as part of the PA SMART Initiative
- $15 million increase in special education
- $21.6 million increase in Early Intervention
- Nearly $7 million increase to community colleges
- $15 million to the state-owned universities of the PASSHE schools
- In job and workforce development:
- A new $7 million apprenticeship training program through PA SMART
- $3 million increase to industry partnerships through PA SMART
- $3 million increase to combatting the Spotted Lanternfly infestation that threatens our agricultural industry
- In social justice:
- $1.3 million to the Human Relations Commission to provide the resources necessary to investigate claims like those of the Grandview 5.
- $1 million for It’s On Us grants to address campus sexual assault
- In health care
- Includes funding to address the Governor’s waiting list initiatives.
- 100 persons on the emergency waiting list for intellectual disabilities (ID) and 800 high school graduates aging into the ID waiver program.
- 40 adults off of the Autism Intervention and Services waiting list.
- Provides funding to expand home visitation programs for parents and young children.
- $2.5 million to fight Lyme disease
The General Appropriations bill passed in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday, and now goes to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk to await his signature.
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