Activists Demonstrate In Center City Demanding Minimum Wage Increase
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- About two dozens activists and their supporters stood outside a fast food restaurant at Broad and Arch Streets Thursday afternoon, demanding action to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania.
A handful of the demonstrators, some carrying signs demanding a raise in the minimum wage, assembled outside the McDonald's to hear speeches and to give voice to the call for a raise to $10.10 an hour.
John Dodds, director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, organized the local rally.
He claims there is broad support for legislative action.
"The people of the state - over two-thirds support a $10 minimum wage. Even 53 percent of the Republicans support it. So the Republican leadership though is playing politics with this issue and this is not a partisan issue."
Dodds concedes the low turnout for the rally may be a reflection of the fatigue over the issue. However, he says Governor Wolf has indicated he would sign a bill if it got to his desk.
The last time state lawmakers approved a minimum wage increase was 10 years ago.
