Voters Sent President Biden, Progressive Majorities to Washington to Deliver for Working People
PENNSYLVANIA — Today, March 2, workers and activists will rally in seven locations to continue the fight for a bold rescue plan and a $15 an hour federal minimum wage on the heels of the relief package that passed the U.S. House over the weekend. All Democrats in Pennsylvania’s House delegation supported the proposal and all Republicans opposed, despite the urgent needs of people and communities suffering in Pennsylvania, even before the pandemic.
Attendees at today’s rallies will thank supportive members of Congress for their support of the House-passed package and urge the U.S. Senate to follow suit by passing a bold rescue plan and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour regardless of immigration status. They will urge PA’s congressional representatives to continue their support for working families in PA by raising the minimum wage, passing comprehensive immigration reform, securing affordable healthcare, forgiving student debt and rent, and reforming our broken criminal justice system.
The times and locations for today’s rallies are:
- Allegheny County: 12PM, Congressman Lamb’s Penn Hills Office, 11 Duff Rd, Pittsburgh. Local Contact: Jodi Hirsh, jodi@sequalconsulting.com, PA United.
- Chester County: 12PM, Congresswoman Houlahan’s West Chester Office, 709 E Gay St #4, West Chester. Local Contact: Jossie Flor Sapunar, immigrant and Latino advocacy group CASA, 240-706-2624, jsapunar@wearecasa.org.
- Erie County: 12PM, Representative Mike Kelly’s office, 208 East Bayfront Parkway, Erie. Local Contact: Jodi Hirsh, jodi@sequalconsulting.com, PA United.
- Harrisburg: 12PM, Pennsylvania Capitol Steps. Local Contact: Karen Gownley, SIEU Healthcare, karen.gownley@seiuhcpa.org.
- Lehigh Valley: 4PM, March from Congresswoman Susan Wild’s Office to Sen. Bob Casey’s Office, starts at 504 Hamilton St. Allentown. Local Contact: Ashleigh Strange, Lehigh Valley Stands Up, 484-635-6650.
- Luzerne County: 4PM, Representative Matt Cartwright’s office, 1 South Church Street, Hazleton Local Contact: Jessica Brittain, Action Together NEPA, j.steward106@gmail.com.
- Philadelphia: 12 PM, Senator Toomey’s Philadelphia office, 200 Chestnut Street. Local Contact: Ted Bordelon, pamedia@forourfuturefund.org.
- Virtual: 5:30 PM, State & Local Leaders Virtual Roundtable, featuring State Sen. Tim Kearney, State Reps. Mike Zabel, Napoleon Nelson, Donna Bullock, Brian Sims, Steve Malgari, and Philadelphia City Councilmember Cherelle Parker. RSVP: PAMedia@forourfuturefund.org.
For decades, organizers and activists have demanded justice for working people and families of all ZIP codes, professions, genders, and races in the form of a fair return on their labor. Because of the work of organizers and workers, public approval has soared to nearly 2 out of every 3 Americans supporting a $15/hour federal minimum wage.
The COVID pandemic only worsened the reality for working people in Pennsylvania, forcing many to sell their labor for poverty wages without health insurance, paid sick leave, affordable childcare, or appropriate PPE. Nearly a million Pennsylvania workers would benefit from a wage hike, which has been blocked for more than a decade in the legislature, and millions more Pennsylvanians from survival payments, expanded unemployment and aid for local governments and small businesses.
Photo Credit: Joe Piette , Fight for 15 PA rally in Philadelphia, 2017 (Flickr)PRESS