State Representative Napoleon Nelson, who serves Cheltenham, Jenkintown and Springfield, announced on Friday that he supported a bill to increase the minimum wage on a county-by-county, year-by-year basis.

House Bill 1549 passed the House by a partisan vote but awaits further consideration in the Senate. The bill is sponsored by Representative Jason Dawkins and seeks to amend the act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968.

The current minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25 per hour, which is the same as the federal minimum wage. The bill aims to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in 20 counties and to $12 in the rest of the counties, starting in 2026. More details here.

Governor Josh Shapiro’s February 2024 budget address proposed a $15 per hour minimum wage. Earlier this month, the Abington Township native posted on Facebook:

Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 / hour for 16 years.

16 years.

Come on, folks. It’s time to catch up and finally raise the minimum wage.

From Rep. Nelson’s announcement on Friday:

Pennsylvania has had the same minimum wage since July 2009, and we are long overdue for an increase. Almost 300,000 Pennsylvanians make minimum wage or near minimum wage, earning only $7.25 to $12 per hour. Meanwhile, the cost of living has skyrocketed. Since the small wage bump in 2009, we have seen a 51% increase in food prices, a 49% increase in medical expenses, and a 67% increase in housing costs with no corresponding minimum wage increase. Over 30 states have raised their wages, including all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors, yet we still lag behind.  

Raising the minimum wage will benefit both taxpayers and businesses alike. With better wages for workers comes less reliance on social services, thus freeing more money to be invested in our communities with the overall goal of shrinking the poverty line. Well-paid workers are better for businesses by increasing employee retention. This would save companies lots of time and resources that would otherwise be spent on hiring and training new employees as replacements.  

And at the end of the day, a livable wage is a basic human right; everyone deserves fair pay for a day’s work. The time is now to raise the wage. Our workers, our neighbors, and our communities deserve better. 

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.