City Council is calling on the state Legislature to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage.
Council recently unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Councilman Jaime Baez Jr. urging the state Senate to approve House Bill 1150.
The bill, proposed by state Rep. G. Roni Green, a Philadelphia Democrat, would raise the hourly minimum wage to $15 from $7.25, beginning Jan. 1.
It would also require that any future minimum wage legislation include an annual cost of living adjustment and lift the current state restrictions that keep municipalities from setting their own minimum wage standards or other wage-related regulations.
“I want to thank Rep. Roni Green for presenting this, and I want to thank the House Representatives for continuing to pass not only one year but multiple years of minimum wage legislation,” Baez said.
Baez, who last year introduced a similar resolution also passed by council, said previous efforts to raise the minimum wage got stuck in the state Senate.
Reading City Council calls for increase in Pennsylvania’s minimum hourly wage
“So I urge the public, those who are watching, those here present, including ourselves as councilors, and those present here in the audience, to reach out to your state senators to apply some pressure,” Baez said. “Make sure you’re emailing, calling, letting them know that this is necessary.”
Green in a February memo to fellow House members said it is impossible to raise a family on Pennsylvania’s current minimum wage.
“Even households of one cannot feed themselves, pay rent and utilities, and save for their future on a $7.25 per hour wage,” she wrote.
Pennsylvania last raised its hourly minimum wage to $7.25 from $7.15 in 2009, when the federal minimum wage was increased to $7.25 from $6.55.
Currently, 34 states, territories and districts have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ website,
The District of Columbia, at $17 per hour, has the highest minimum wage, followed by Washington at $16.28 per hour.
New Jersey‘s new hourly minimum wage of $15.13 for most employees took effect at the start of last year. For seasonal and small employers, that state’s minimum is lower: $13.73 up from $12.93.
New York also raised its hourly minimum wage, effective Jan. 1, 2024, to $16 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County and $15 in the rest of the state.
“I have to say that I think we all love Pennsylvania, but sometimes Pennsylvania is way behind a lot of other states in many ways, Council President Donna Reed said. “The fact that all our surrounding states have pretty much improved their minimum wage and we are still at a minimum wage that is 20-plus years old is absurd.”
Reed thanked Baez for introducing the resolution and urged city residents to contact their state senators and ask them to adopt the bill.
“Whenever you can, however you can, call them, write emails, get to Harrisburg, visit their offices,” she said.
Several residents, including representatives of the advocacy organization Berks Stands Up, spoke to council during the public comment period. They urged council members to support the resolution.
Jae Elizabeth Giesen said she has a college degree and has held a job in Reading for the past eight years. She would like to move out of her parents’ home, but at current rental rates she cannot afford an apartment on her own.
“The only reason I’m able to keep myself going right now is because I have the support of my parents,” she said, urging council to pass the resolution.
City Managing Director Jack Gombach read a statement from Mayor Eddie Moran, who also urged the Senate to take action to increase the minimum wage.
The city raised the minimum starting wages for its employees, the mayor said, because it was the right thing to do.
“Now it’s time for the state to follow,” he said. “I strongly support raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and urge the Legislature to pass HB 1150. Let’s make sure everyone who works hard has a fair shot to build a better life.”
Originally Published: June 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM EDT