Struggle for $15 Minimum Wage Gains Local Endorsers

| kategoodman23
15 Now Philly, the group advocating for a $15 an hour minimum wage in Philadelphia, has recently secured important new endorsements from local allies in the fight for 15. Momentum has grown tremendously over the past two months after 15 Now held a large rally outside city hall on November 19th. Just days later, in Philadelphia and across the country, dozens of fast food workers walked off their jobs and took the streets demanding $15 an hour and a union.  These worker-driven mass actions demonstrated to low wage employers and local politicians that it is time for big changes to local minimum wage laws.

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City Council didn’t take long to act. On December 11th, 2nd District City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson introduced a resolution to hold a hearing on the $15 minimum wage. The resolution was passed unanimously by City Council, and 15 Now anticipates the hearing on lifting the minimum wage will be held near the end of February.

In addition to growing traction in City Hall, new community endorsers have backed the $15 an hour minimum wage in Philly. The Martin Luther King Day of Action Resistance and Empowerment Coalition of faith and #BlackLivesMatter organizations has lifted the $15 an hour minimum wage demand as one of three key demands. Thousands of people will march on Center City on MLK Day (January 19th) to demand racial, economic and legal justice for people of color.

Additionally, the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools (PCAPS), a powerful alliance of community and labor groups in the city, has endorsed ’15 Now.’ The Philadelphia Restaurant Opportunities Center, a restaurant worker organizing group fighting along to eliminate the tipped minimum wage, is backing 15 Now.

Northwest Philadelphia movers-and-shakers Neighborhood Networks endorsed 15 Now. Neighborhood Networks has already begun applying pressure to City Council representatives, and has kicked off a massive petition drive in Germantown and Mt Airy.

The $15 an hour demand is gaining support rapidly as members push towards the February hearings. Other endorsed include the Temple Nurses Union, Youth United for Change (YUC),  the PFT Caucus of Working Educators, Councilwoman Janie Blackwell, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Jewish Labor Committees, the PA Postal Workers union and others.

If your group would like to endorse ’15 Now Philly,’ please e-mail kateagoodman@gmail.com.

And help us turn the heat up on City Council by making a phone call to your Council member today!

 You can donate critical resources directly to the Philly campaign here 

Or become a National Sustainer to help with the Philadelphia work and campaigns across the country1798048_701500889883806_1888545724_n