By Jan Murphy
Penn Live/ThePatriot News, March 7, 2016
More than 450 state government workers – including part-time clerks, tax season typists, custodians among others – received a pay hike on Monday as a result of an executive order signed by Gov. Tom Wolf. The directive raised the minimum wage to $10.15 an hour for employees under the governor's jurisdiction, effective immediately. Starting July 1, it also extends the order to employees of certain organizations that negotiate contracts with the commonwealth. ... He urged the Legislature to follow up this executive order by passing legislation that would make the $10.15 an hour minimum a statewide mandate ...
Wolf pointed out businesses would benefit as well. "It boosts morale paying a fair wage. It also improves productivity. It reduces turnover. And when you have a reduction in turnover, you also have a reduction in the costs associated with high turnover, training, getting people acclimated to your business," he said. ...
Charlie Crystle, CEO of Lancaster Food Company, who was on hand for the governor's announcement, disagreed [with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, which opposed the minimum wage increase]. "That's an argument that supports exploiting people for the benefit of the businesses," he said . "If the chamber wants to argue that keeping people in poverty who show up and work for you everyday, .... I would say that's an unethical position."
His organic food company, which is not affected by the governor's executive order, pays a $14 starting wage. He said that helps reduce turnover and attracts a higher quality employee.
"Someone who comes to work for you all day long and builds value for you and you bring them back the next day and the next day, clearly this is someone you value for your businesses," Crystle said. "But when they come home and can't pay the bills, that's not something that we think is good for our businesses, for our employees, for our community. All it does is shift the cost to taxpayers in another way in social service agencies."
Harrisburg restaurateur John Trayton, who also was in attendance at the news conference, echoed that sentiment but pointed out it's good for his business in another way. He was surprised to learn that 4 percent of his business' revenue comes from his own employees patronizing their workplace.
"If I was paying them less, they would not be coming in," Trayton said. "The added bonus is they come in with friends, come back with people. They become your advertising." ...
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