By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — About 200 people marched down East Market Street at rush hour on Tuesday evening, and then briefly took over part of the Gallery Mall to protest the stagnation of the minimum wage.

On the third anniversary of the last increase in the federal minimum wage, a coalition of labor unions and advocates gathered on Independence Mall to hear testimony from minimum wage workers such as Victoria Bruton.

“The cost of gas has increased, food has increased, and rent has rise, but my wage remained the same. We work hard, we deserve a fair wage,” Bruton said.

The protestors then marched down what they called “Minimum Wage Alley,” because of the pay rate at so many East Market Street stores. Their ultimate destination was one such store, Burlington Coat Factory, which they tried to enter through the Gallery–much to the amusement of shoppers and workers at neighboring stores. They were turned away and rallied outside, promising continued pressure for a minimum wage increase.