Pennsylvania − May 20, 2019 − Advocates, lawmakers and state officials will participate in tours and a statewide day of action on Thursday, May 23rd with businesses that choose to pay their employees a living wage.

Pennsylvania’s minimum wage remains at a regional low of $7.25 per hour, the minimum still set by the federal government. The state is beyond due for an increase in this poverty-level wage.

According to a recent report from the Keystone Research Center, an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $12/hour on July 1, 2019 (as proposed by Governor Tom Wolf and members of the General Assembly as part of this year’s budget negotiations) would impact a total of 1.7 million Pennsylvania workers. More than 1.13 million would see a direct increase; 540,000 people who make slightly more than $12/hour would see their wages increase as payscales are adjusted upwards.

Despite a decade without a mandated increase from the state or federal government, business owners throughout Pennsylvania understand that a $7.25 wage is unacceptable and have taken it upon themselves to ensure that their workers are able to support themselves through full-time work. Those businesses are thriving.

Members of the press are invited to attend these tours and ask questions of the legislators and business owners. Tour stops include:

Harrisburg

2:00pm at Elementary Coffee

Broad Street Market, 1233 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17102

Pittsburgh

3:30pm at Bar Marco

2216 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Philadelphia

1:30pm at La Barberia

Suburban Station Concourse, 17th St. & JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Delaware County

5:00pm at Five Points Coffee Shop

47 Long Ln, Upper Darby, PA 19082

Chester County

3:00pm at Mabel’s BBQ

607 East Market St. West Chester, PA

Bucks County

1pm at Exact Solar

82 Walker Lane, Newtown PA 18940

Lancaster

11am at El Pueblito Mexican Restaurant

1027 Dillerville Rd., Dillerville Square, Lancaster

Follow along with the day of action on Twitter with #RealJobsRealPay

For more information on the urgent need to raise the minimum wage, visit realjobsrealpay.com