The current minimum wage in Pennsylvania has remained at the federal minimum of $7.25 since 2014. With President Obama’s push for a raise to $10, a coalition of workers has formed to ask for even more.
Proponents will gather Wednesday at Philadelphia City Council to push for an increase in minimum wage to $15 an hour. Fast food workers, business owners, faith-based leaders, economists, professors and student workers are scheduled to attend and testify before council.
The struggle for $15 is a movement that has sparked fierce debate about how to tackle rapidly increasing income inequality in the United States. The last several months have brought victories for millions of workers.
Last week Wal-Mart caved to organized workers and agreed to pay a $10 minimum wage by 2016. In June 2014, Seattle passed a $15 wage. On Election Day 2014, San Francisco and Oakland voters passed wage increases.
Philadelphia workers hope to be next on the list of minimum wage success stories.
