Pa.Don’t neglect wages in the fight to raise the minimum wage | Opinion – Pennsylvanianewstoday.com

Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy

and Recent articles on Capital Star, State Senator Dan Laughlin, R-Erie) and Pat Browne, R-Lehighs legislation will increase the proposed change to Pennsylvanias minimum wage to $ 10 per hour under the bill. Was scrutinized for.

Most notably, the bill will link future wage increases to inflation. I agree with the overall tone of the article and its stance of raising the minimum wage, but it omits an important aspect: ending wage preemption.

Most lawmakers believe this is the solution to a long-standing problem, but research shows that linking rising wages to inflation does not really solve the bigger problem at hand. in fact, Since 1968, the federal minimum wage has been in step with worker productivityThe inflation-adjusted minimum wage is about $ 24 per hour. Thats far from $ 7.25 and even $ 10.

Dean Baker, Senior Economist at the Center for Economic Policy Research, by 2025 Increased productivity will actually bring the minimum wage closer to $ 30 per how.NS.

and Local wagesI am encouraging municipalities to set their own minimum wages, but I believe that the abolition of wage preemption will allow municipalities and their members to work together to determine the prestigious wages they have lived in. We know.

Already, we see the Pennsylvania labor market trying to modify the purchasing power of the minimum wage and offer higher wages to people.

If we raise wages without ending preemption, we are in the unfortunate position of getting stuck. No one refuses to raise wages, but ending preemption allows the labor market and employers to adjust in a higher way to the needs of the community. State-wide wages do not. Living costs in Pennsylvania vary greatly, and it makes no difference if you live in a big city for $ 10 an hour.

Here at Wage Local, its time for Pennsylvania to look to the future and stop tying up cities and municipalities, so the bill to change the minimum wage is working to eliminate wage preemption.

Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy is the Managing Director of Pennsylvania United, an advocacy group based in western Pennsylvania.

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Pa.Don't neglect wages in the fight to raise the minimum wage | Opinion - Pennsylvanianewstoday.com