PA Senate Dems Move to Raise Minimum Wage

PennLive reports on efforts in Harrisburg to raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour:

The proposal — by senators Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) and Mike Stack (D-Philadelphia) — would also make it illegal for businesses to pay workers who receive tips less than minimum wage. Currently, tip earners can be paid a minimum of $2.83 an hour.

“The tipped minimum wage hasn’t changed in 23 years and allows business owners to take advantage of low-wage, disproportionately female workers even demanding they do un-tipped work like dish washing and cleaning bathrooms for $2.83 an hour,” Leah said in a statement.

The bill would also index the minimum wage to inflation, which occurs in 11 other states. The senators said the changes would create 1 million new jobs in Pennsylvania.

The PA Chamber of Business and Industry opposes the proposal.