Activists In Philadelphia Join Nationwide Protest Of Low Minimum Wage
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Activists in Philadelphia joined many across the country Saturday in protesting the low minimum wage. The rallies were purposely held on International Women's Day.
Philadelphia workers held a rally in Center City, demanding the minimum wage be raised from $7.25 to $15 and hour in Pennsylvania.
"Because if you're working for $7.25, you usually don't have a lot leftover to have stable housing, beautify your neighborhoods," says Activist Seth DiMartile.
DiMartile makes $8.50 an hour at Boston Market. He says he hopes people change their thinking.
"Because so many of the workers who work for these wages actually have to be on food stamps to make ends meet," DiMartile said. "Walmart actually has a program to help their workers sign up for benefits, which is outrageous if someone is employed full-time."
Marty Harrison, a member of the group Socialist Alternative, says the rally was held to coincide with International Women's Day.
"We know that women are disproportionately represented among low wage and minimum wage workers," Harrison says.