Gov. Tom Wolf Visited The Willow Grove Mall In Montco Thurs. Calling For Minium Wage Raise

ABINGTON, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf made a stop in Montgomery County Thursday to call for a raise in the state's minimum wage, saying that it is disheartening that Pennsylvania hasn't raised its minimum wage in 15 years.

"You cannot work a full-time job at seven dollars and twenty-five cents an hour and not need to have public support and you certainly aren't making a contribution to the rest of the commonwealth," Wolf said during a stop at & Pizza, a restaurant in the Willow Grove Mall.

Wolf was joined by state and local officials during his stop at the pizza place, which took place around 2 p.m. Thursday.

Patch was there as the governor, flanked by fellow Democratic elected officials, drove home the point that folks making minimum wage in Pennsylvania are simply unable to make ends meet and buy life's essential items.

Wolf said if employees are not compensated fairly, "they're not going to be treating your customers the way you need them to be treating your customers."

He said the current minimum is "bad for workers, it's bad for businesses, it's bad for our economy."

Wolf said he has made the pledge for a minimum wage increase every year that he has been in office, and he plans to take his plea during his budget address in a couple weeks.

"The fact that Pennsylvania's minimum wage hasn't increased in 15 years is an embarrassment," Wolf said. "This is an insult to Pennsylvania workers."

Wolf said he supports an increase to $12 per hour but ultimately would like to see the wage raised to $15 an hour.

Wolf said 29 U.S. states plus Washington D.C. have a higher minimum wage than Pennsylvania.

"The gap between us and other states keeps growing, it's apparent," he said.

Raising the minimum wage would give state residents a better shot at providing for themselves and their families, Wolf said.

"Pennsylvanians work hard, but our current minimum wage does not give anyone a chance to work their way out of poverty," Wolf said.

Also speaking at the event was Kelly Maguire, the store manager at the & Pizza Willow Grove location.

"Fair pay is absolutely essential to & Pizza's business model," she said. "All of our work counts for nothing if our people cannot live on the wages we pay them."

Maguire said the reality is that "too many Pennsylvanians can't make ends meet."

Wolf's office said that on Tuesday Wolf raised the minimum wage for state employees to $15 per hour effective Jan. 31.

Other officials who spoke at the event were State House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton; State Sen. Art Haywood, D-4; State Sen. Maria Collett, D-12; and State Rep. Darisha Parker, D-198.

Haywood thanked Wolf for raising the minimum wage for state workers and praised businesses like & Pizza who have already implemented a $15 minimum wage.

"... It's time for other private companies to do the same," Haywood said.

In a statement, Michael Lastoria, founder and CEO of & Pizza, said that "higher wages are the single clearest way to say to our workforce, 'We value you.' Fair pay leads to better employee retention and productivity, and to increased consumer spending. Raising Pennsylvania's minimum wage will be good for business and good for workers."

State officials who attended the event, but who did not speak, included State Rep. Ben Sanchez, D-153; State Rep. Nancy Guenst, D-152; State Rep. Joe Webster, D-150; State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-148; and State Rep. Steve Malagari, D-53.