HARRISBURG, July 18, 2006 – State Sen. Mike Stack said today that the new minimum wage increase is a necessary move to improve the quality of life for low-wage Pennsylvania workers.

“Pennsylvanians deserve to earn a decent living for themselves and their families, and this raise puts them on a better track,” said Stack (D-Philadelphia), who co-sponsored the bill.

Under the new law, Pennsylvania’s minimum wage will gradually increase by two dollars from the federal level of $5.15 an hour.

Minimum wage workers will see their pay increased to $6.25 an hour in January 2007, then to $7.15 an hour in July 2007.

Employees of companies with fewer than 10 full-time workers will see a more gradual increase until 2008. Employers can also pay workers under the age of 20 a training wage of $5.15, which would increase to the full minimum wage status after 60 days of employment.

The state Senate voted for Senate Bill 1090 on June 30, followed by House approval the next day. Gov. Ed Rendell signed it into law on July 9.

“Through this increase, we are helping hundreds of thousands of hard-working people escape poverty,” Stack said. “It’s been nine years of skyrocketing gas prices, spiraling housing costs and escalating electric bills.

“Now is the time to act,” Stack said.

Stack said he sponsored and voted for the measure because he believed it was a “moral duty” to help the growing number of impoverished families.

“This is not an economic issue. It’s a moral issue,” Stack said.

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