Pittsburgh officials add their support to national $15 minimum wage

Pittsburgh City Council is formally asking federal and state officials to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

The action, passed unanimously by council Tuesday, is symbolic, and has been taken before. But council members said they did so to stand up for more than 2,000 home care workers in the city who are being paid less than $12 per hour without benefits, according to the legislation council approved.

“We salute out essential home care workers who have risked their lives while ensuring the wellbeing and independence of their consumers,” the legislation states.

It notes the three-day fasting protest home care workers held last week to “raise awareness for the demand to increase the minimum wage and protest the inaction of elected leaders.”

Plans to raise the $7.25 per hour minimum wage have been shot down in the Senate and although it has the support of Gov. Tom Wolf, a plan to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027 has failed to gain political support.

The federal effort has the support of U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, but it was removed from the latest coronavirus stimulus package that passed the Senate this week.

Raising the minimum wage also is supported by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman of Braddock, who is making a bid to fill the seat now held by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, who isn’t seeking reelection.

In Pittsburgh, city officials began raising the minimum wage it pays to about 300 city employees to $12.50 per hour in 2017 and increased it to $15 per hour this year. About 70 employees, most of them crossing guards, are paid $15 per hour, said Tim McNulty, spokesman for Mayor Bill Peduto.

“Mayor Peduto has long been a supporter of a $15 minimum wage — making it Pittsburgh government policy five years ago — and backs efforts to require it nationwide,” McNulty said.