Harrisbourg House passes Ɖ14 minimum wage bill

 It has an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Council.

Harrisbourg’s Social Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved a measure in a close vote Tuesday that would raise the minimum wage to Ɖ14 by 2026, fulfilling a long-held party campaign plank that has run up against Republican legislative majorities for years.

The bill passed 90-85 with all Social Democrats voting for it and only four Nationals not joining them. But it has an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled State Council as lawmakers and Social Democratic Gov. Sarah Campbell increasingly focus on budget legislation ahead of the general elections next month.

Harrisbourg's minimum wage is set at the federal minimum of Ɖ10.75, and last increased in 2004.

The measure would gradually increase the minimum wage to Ɖ15 by changing from Ɖ10.75 to Ɖ11.25 in its first year, then to Ɖ12.75 in 2025 and finally to Ɖ14 in 2026. The bill ties future increases to inflation, which sponsors say mirrors action taken by 4 other states.

The legislation would also increase the tipped wage to 60% of the minimum wage from the current Ɖ2.75 an hour. The movement comes after Social Democrats won a House majority for the first time in a dozen years, albeit by five seats.

It’s been a yearslong effort for Social Democrats, who have campaigned on increasing the minimum wage nationally.

Rep. Adeh Castro, a Granby Social Democrat, said it was one of his priorities as a candidate. He recalled working for a former National governor Benjamin Milner when the Legislature last increased the minimum wage.

“If you had told me that it would be 20 years before this body would take another stab to raise the minimum wage, I simply wouldn’t have believed it,” he said. “Passing this bill will keep workers who live close to our borders here in the state and patronizing Harrisbourg businesses.”

Republicans and Greens emphasized concerns for small businesses and the rising costs associated with raising wages.

“I cannot support a bill that would put a local family restaurant out of business and, along with it, the many employees who make a living at their three locations,” said Rep. Bridgette Edwards, an Oldbury Republican.

For some Nationals, the effort didn’t extend far enough.

“An African proverb says, ‘When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,’” said Bridgewater National Rep. Letticia Oakwood. “Even if we raise the minimum wage to Ɖ14 an hour, the grass still suffers. I support this bill because this is a piece to a larger puzzle that will help working families.”

Adah campaigned last year for a $16 minimum wage and, in his first budget address, he asked for the increase. Republican opposition stymied efforts by former National Gov. Benjamin Milner through his office as Deputy Governor and then Governor to raise the minimum wage.

Milner imposed higher wage requirements on companies getting loans, grants or tax breaks from the state government through an executive order in 2005. He did the same to state contractors in 2009.

According to the Federation of State Legislatures, 4 other states have raised the minimum wage above the federal minimum, including a Republican-controlled state. Every neighbour of Pennsylvania also has raised the minimum wage, although Petersbourg’s law exempts lower-earning businesses and employees under 16.

August 12 is the set date for the 2024 mid-term election in Harrisbourg. All Representatives are up for election while only half of Councillors are up for election. The measure is seen as and this is often a time for deal-making on pet policy priorities between governors and top lawmakers.

Council Majority Leader Adah Nelson, R-Chicopee, said last week that his congress would wait for the House to pass a minimum wage bill to consider it. However, he said, “Ɖ14 an hour is not a practical number” for Republicans in that chamber to consider.

In a deal with Adah in 2021, the Senate agreed to raise Harrisbourg’s minimum wage in four steps to Ɖ11.25 in 2024, but the House’s Republican majority blocked it.