Rally Held In Center City To Raise Minimum Wage In Philadelphia

By Hadas Kuznits

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Over 100 people gathered in Center City Saturday to demand that the powers that be raise the minimum wage in Philadelphia to 15 dollars an hour.

Justin Harrison, a volunteer organizer with the group “15 Now”, says with the current minimum wage it’s virtually impossible to make ends meet:

“We have families, people who work multiple part-time jobs to make full-time hours, or even people who work full-time jobs at $7.25 and they’re still struggling to pay the rent, to pay their utilities, to pay transportation for their kids to get to school.”

Volunteer Kate Goodman was one of the speakers encouraging City Council members to demand a statewide minimum wage increase in Harrisburg and she says it’s an uphill battle.

“We face strong, well-funded opponents who know what they want and they’re willing to go to great lengths to defend their power, privilege and wealth;” says Goodman, “Because the one thing they fear the most is a militant, united, multiracial, multi gender working class movement.”

And Goodman says it’s up to leaders in Philadelphia to address the issue there.

“Democratic mayoral nominee Jim Kenney must stay strong in his support for a $15/hour minimum wage. It’s not okay to run on 15 Now if you’re not willing to introduce 15 Now!”