HARRISBURG, PA, January 8, 2019 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) has been reappointed as minority chairwoman of the Senate Labor & Industry Committee, where she will continue her work to protect the rights and promote the interests of Pennsylvania’s workforce.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Jr. announced the appointments of minority chairs for all 22 of the chamber’s standing committees yesterday for the 2019-20 legislative session, which began on January 1.

“As a former union organizer and business representative, I am keenly aware of and focused on the issues affecting all Pennsylvania workers,” Sen. Tartaglione said. “During my 24 years in the Senate, I have taken a leadership role in Harrisburg and in my home district on priorities including raising the minimum wage, workplace safety, wage equality, overtime pay protection, protection from discrimination and harassment, and workforce development. I look forward to continuing my collaboration with the Labor Committee, labor organizations, independent workers, and employers to further these paramount objectives and to grow family-sustaining jobs.”

Prior to being elected to the Senate in 1994, Tartaglione served as an organizer and business representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776. During the 2005-06 legislative session, her bill to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage was enacted. The legislature hasn’t raised the minimum wage again since then.

In the 2009-10 session, Tartaglione’s bill to address the Commonwealth’s short-term and long-term healthcare workforce challenges and to ensure an adequate supply of quality workers in the industry was enacted. During the 2011-12 session, her bill to fund the hiring of additional Pennsylvania State Police troopers was enacted.

Additionally, Tartaglione has taken a leading role in extending unemployment compensation benefits for jobless workers, and in providing for a shared work alternative to the termination of job positions by employers.

The 2019-20 Pennsylvania Senate session is scheduled to resume on January 15, when Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will be sworn into office.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or email at William.Kenny@pasenate.com.