Rep. Mullins among group calling for increase to minimum wage

Apr. 21—Rep. Kyle Mullins believes raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour would properly recognize the efforts of essential workers in Pennsylvania.

"They are real-life heroes walking among us," said Mullins, D-112, Blakely. "The best way for policymakers in Harrisburg to honor everything they've done day in and day out, especially through the COVID crisis, is to ensure we're respecting them."

Mullins joined Jennifer Berrier, the state's Department of Labor & Industry acting secretary; Thom Welby, chief of staff for state Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton; and Scranton home care worker Dominick Cutro at a virtual news conference Tuesday afternoon to back Gov. Tom Wolf's proposal to increase the minimum wage.

Unsuccessful in previous years, Gov. Tom Wolf again proposed raising the state's minimum wage to $12 an hour starting July 1. After that a 50-cent-a-year increase would bring the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour by July 1, 2027.

Pennsylvania's minimum wage has remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009, the lowest minimum wage allowed by federal law.

"Every worker in Pennsylvania deserves to earn a living wage, especially those who put themselves in harm's way to protect us," Berrier said. "Too many of our health care and essential workers are earning poverty wages while putting themselves at risk to keep our society running."

Cutro, a member of the United Home Care Workers of Pennsylvania, noted the struggles care workers have faced to earn a living.

"I would like to see an increase so I don't have to put in so many hours in a day," he said. "It would definitely help all of us."

House Republican Caucus spokesperson Jason Gottesman fears raising the minimum wage could deliver the final blow to many struggling businesses.

"Over the last 13 months, 500,000 jobs have been permanently lost and Pennsylvania's employers have been devastated as a result of unilateral and inconsistent shutdown orders issued by Gov. Wolf," he said in a statement. "Seeking to raise the minimum wage at this time might be what ultimately breaks many of the employers who are living on the edge between closing and remaining open with employees hired, health care benefits paid, and families supported."

Gottesman added many employers have raised wages at their companies to meet market conditions and attract employees to return to work.

On the other hand, Welby thinks an increase to the minimum wage would help businesses maintain continuity on their staffs and save money in the long run.

"Oftentimes, one of the higher costs for employers is having to replace and retrain workers," he said. "The ability to pay a little bit more for them and not have to deal with retraining and hiring new employees is a huge benefit."

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