Governor Rendell Brings Call for Minimim Wage Hike to AFL-CIO, Says Increase Long Overdue

GOVERNOR RENDELL BRINGS CALL FOR MINIMUM WAGE HIKE TO AFL-CIO, SAYS INCREASE LONG OVERDUE

Governor Delivers Message During AFL-CIO 37th Annual Constitutional Convention

On the heels of Michigan's recent approval of a minimum wage hike, Governor Edward G. Rendell again reminded Pennsylvania's lawmakers today that it's time to increase the commonwealth's hourly wage.

"Interest rates have skyrocketed, gas prices are still high and it's not getting any cheaper to feed the family," Governor Rendell told more than 1,000 attendees at the AFL-CIO 37th Constitutional Convention. "Pennsylvania's hardworking men and women need an increase now to help them pay for basic necessities.

"This will not put our businesses at a competitive disadvantage because states all around us have increased the minimum wage for their workers. It will, however, provide a little extra freedom for our 423,000 hourly wage earners who continue to struggle every day in deciding whether they should buy something to eat or pay the rent.

"Workers can wait no longer. The General Assembly must act now to increase the minimum wage."

The Michigan Legislature last week approved an increase in their state's minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.95 an hour beginning in October. The proposal also includes another increase in July 2007 to $7.15 an hour and to $7.40 an hour on July 1, 2008.

The Governor sent a letter to House and Senate members last January to call on them to support his proposed increase in the minimum wage to $6.25 an hour this year and to $7.15 an hour by 2007. The federal minimum wage has not been increased since 1997, when it was mandated at $5.15 an hour. The last time the Legislature increased the minimum wage was in 1988.

Nineteen states - Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia - currently have minimum wage levels above $5.15 an hour.

"We now have 122,200 more jobs than when I took office, and our unemployment rate continues to beat the national average. We are making investments that support education, worker training and economic development," Governor Rendell said. "Hiking the minimum wage $1.80 an hour is not going to undo the strong economic gains Pennsylvania has made since 2003."

For a copy of Governor Rendell's letter to lawmakers asking for an increase in the minimum wage, visit http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=449263. To find out more about the Governor's workforce development initiatives, visit www.dli.state.pa.us.

http://www.governor.state.pa.us/governor/cwp/view.asp?a=1115&q=446442