Feb 24, 2019 2 min read

The Observer-Reporter is absolutely right in supporting an increase in the state minimum wage (Rise in Pa.’s minimum wage is long overdue, Feb. 14).

As the paper noted, our state’s minimum wage of $7.25 is lower than each of our surrounding states and has remained flat for a decade now.

Your readers, and our local legislators, need to know that raising the wage to $15 an hour would lift the incomes of 2.2 million Pennsylvanians – and these men and women are not young teens working at the mall (though they deserve to earn a decent wage, as well.)

The majority of workers in the state who would get a raise as a result of a statewide minimum wage increase are adults (89.7 percent) working full time (58 percent), according to research by the Harrisburg-based Keystone Research Center.

This debate is taking center stage in Harrisburg, but I would urge your readers to pick up the phone and call their state senator and House member and demand that they support a higher wage. (You can find your lawmakers by going to https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator).

It’s shameful that men and women working full-time to support their families are making just $290 a week per hour – before taxes. Call your lawmakers and demand that they step up.

John D. Henninger

Lawrence