Well being care | Democrats focus on elevating minimal wage throughout listening to in Philadelphia • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Within the Home Democratic Coverage Committee At Wednesday’s listening to, staff testified concerning the challenges of working in a state the place the minimal wage hasn’t been lowered since 2009.

“That is extra of a name for motion,” mentioned state Rep. Ryan Bizarro (D-Erie), the committee’s chairperson, at a listening to held at SEIU Native 668 in Philadelphia. “We have been speaking about this situation for a few years.”

Pennsylvania’s minimal wage is $7.25 an hour, the bottom price allowed beneath present federal regulation and the bottom among the many Keystone State’s neighbors.

In June 2023, The Pennsylvania Home handed the laws. A 103-100 vote would have raised the state’s minimal wage to $15 an hour steadily over the subsequent three years, with additional annual will increase tied to the buyer value index.

The GOP-controlled state Senate didn’t advance the laws.

Minimal wage enhance to $15 an hour in Pa. Passes in Home.

Karim Jones, a house well being care employee in Philadelphia and a member of the Pennsylvania Service Staff Worldwide Union (SEIU), testified that he supplied house look after his brother, however solely earned $13-$14 an hour. It has and doesn’t have advantages akin to sick time, well being. Insurance coverage, or household depart.

“Taking good care of the home is essential to me, as a result of taking good care of my brother is essential to me,” Jones mentioned. “I really feel like I am at my finest once I’m taking good care of him and I’ve grow to be so near him due to the care.” He will get emotional speaking about his brother, who Jones desires to verify “Reside a full and cozy life.”

Jones mentioned she has to complement her earnings by way of part-time work akin to offering Instacart and youngsters’s get together providers, which provides to the challenges of caring for her brother.

State Rep. Paul Farrell (D-Chester) mentioned Jones supplies a compelling counterargument to Republicans who declare the one individuals making close to minimal wage are younger individuals working facet jobs after highschool. There’s additionally an financial argument, Farrell mentioned.

“I argue that I believe it is a good funding that is really higher for the taxpayer,” added Friel. “And higher care and higher circumstances and taking good care of our households and our youngsters will price us so much much less in the long term.”

Bree Golfin is a 32-year-old barista who has labored within the restaurant trade since she was 18 years previous. She makes $12.50 an hour, is on Medicaid, and has one other part-time job doing hurt discount.

He mentioned that I’ve been part of the battle for the rights of staff for at the least a decade. “Ten years in the past, we needed the minimal wage to be $15 an hour. That is not viable anymore. It must be $18.

State Rep. Ronnie Inexperienced (D-Philadelphia) is sponsoring the laws that Elevating the state minimal wage to $18 an hour And referred to as the present minimal wage a betrayal.

“Republicans really feel like $11 is what we’re price,” Inexperienced mentioned. “And we are saying no, we’re price greater than $11.”

Golfin added that the tipping system generally used within the restaurant trade must be eradicated, so staff do not need to depend on suggestions they do not all the time get.

State Rep. Nancy Gavinst (D-Montgomery), who as soon as labored as a single mom within the restaurant trade, agreed. “It was like pulling hair daily simply to get an honest tip,” Genst mentioned.

Mark Steyergovt director of the Pennsylvania Coverage Middle, a progressive suppose tank in Harrisburg, mentioned he was an hourly employee for his first job in 1968 when the minimal wage was $1.60 an hour.

“$1.60 in 1968, if adjusted for inflation, could be $31.60 right this moment,” Steer mentioned. “That is the place the minimal wage needs to be.”

Much more essential, Steyer mentioned, is for Pennsylvania to repeal a previous regulation that stops native governments from elevating the minimal wage above the state stage.

“We actually ought to permit counties to experiment with greater minimal wages to regulate to native circumstances,” Steyer mentioned.

“My guess is that if the state did that, we would see counties and a few localities all step up and lift the minimal wage,” he added.