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HARRISBURG, PA (Jan. 30, 2019) – PSEA President Rich Askey voiced support today for Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour on July 1 and to $15 an hour by 2025.
“More than 1 million Pennsylvania workers are not paid what they should be,” Askey said. “Their paychecks need to better reflect the many responsibilities they take on for their employers. We applaud Gov. Wolf for making those hardworking Pennsylvanians a priority.”
Askey said the governor’s plan will lift wages for many PSEA members who work as classroom aides, custodians, maintenance staff, and office secretaries.
“The governor’s minimum wage plan will lift wages for the professionals who work with our students to improve their reading skills, cook and serve their lunches, greet them when they arrive at school each morning, and maintain safe, healthy, and clean buildings,” he said.
The state’s minimum wage has not been increased since 2009. More than half the states, including all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors, have raised their minimum wages.
“Raising the minimum wage will put more money in the pockets of working families who will spend it at local businesses on the basics they need,” Askey said. “By paying people fair wages for an honest day’s work, we can create an economy that works for everyone.”
Askey is a Harrisburg music teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents approximately 181,000 active and retired educators and school employees, student teachers, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.
