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Security Officers Rally in North Philadelphia to Demand $15 an Hour


  The intersection of Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue was filled with a sea of purple on September 15th. Drumming and chants of “What do we want? 15! What do we want? 15!” could be heard blocks away.

  Philadelphia security workers sported purple shirts that read, “Philly Security, Always There,” as they rallied for a 15 dollar minimum wage among advocates and Pennsylvania representatives.

Protesters carried signs that read, “Break the chains of poverty, be an agent of change,” during the 15-an-hour minimum wage protest that took place September 15, 2016./Kaitlyn Moore

Protesters carried signs that read, “Break the chains of poverty, be an agent of change,” during the 15-an-hour minimum wage protest that took place September 15, 2016./Kaitlyn Moore

  The protest was brought together by 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). According to communication manager of 32BJ, Traci Benjamin, the average starting wage for a security officer represented by 32BJ is $10.25 per hour.

  LaRhonda Whitmore, a security officer in North Philadelphia said, “The [minimum wage] here is too low. There is no way we can give back or support the stores here. We are fighting for 15 dollars an hour for our children. It will keep our family strong, so we can stay in Philadelphia because we are the originals of this community.”

Protesters cheer as state representatives speak in their support for the increased minimum wage./Kaitlyn Moore

Protesters cheer as state representatives speak in their support for the increased minimum wage./Kaitlyn Moore

  According to a study by the Massachusetts Institute for Technology, a full-time working adult would need to make an average of $11.43 per hour to support themselves in Philadelphia. The current minimum wage of Pennsylvania is set at $7.25 per hour, $4.18 short of what is considered to be a living wage for a single adult.

  The state minimum wage is the same for each worker regardless of how many dependents they may have. For a single adult with one child, the living wage bumps up to a $23.06 hourly rate.

  Whitmore added, “[$15 an hour] is the minimum to start off. If it takes $23.06 to support just one adult and I have four kids, $7.75 is just not enough.”

Two 32BJ members lead the crowd in chants for a high minimum wage./Kaitlyn Moore

Two 32BJ members lead the crowd in chants for a high minimum wage./Kaitlyn Moore

  The protests were complete with signs, drummer performances and excited chants from advocates. The protesters also rallied for a higher minimum wage at Hahnemann University Hospital (230 N. Broad St) and at the intersection of 34th and Market Streets with information leaflets.

  Conservative experts, like James Sherk, a researcher at the Heritage Foundation, argue that increasing the minimum wage would promote job loss due to an increased financial burden on employers. Sherk notes that these losses would most heavily affect those working in unskilled labor jobs.

  Protestors were joined by State Representatives Jordan Harris, Donna Bullock, Joanna McClinton, Jason Dawkins and State Senate candidate Sharif Street. McClinton, State Representative of the 191st Legislative District stood with protesters, saying,“There are institutions of the Commonwealth that can afford to raise the wage.”

State Representative of the 191st Legislative District, Joanna McClinton, addresses the crowd of protesters in support of a higher minimum wage./Kaitlyn Moore

State Representative of the 191st Legislative District, Joanna McClinton, addresses the crowd of protesters in support of a higher minimum wage./Kaitlyn Moore

  Meanwhile, Street explained how, “It’s shown that when you take corporate profits and you increase worker’s pay, the average worker spends 100 percent of their salary even at $15.00 an hour and therefore all that money is turning over the economy. When high-end corporate people get the money, they save it and may or may not invest it in our communities.”

Democratic State Senate candidate, Sharif Street, address the crowd in support of a $15 minimum wage. /Kaitlyn Moore

Democratic State Senate candidate, Sharif Street, address the crowd in support of a $15 minimum wage. /Kaitlyn Moore

  John Deval, security officer at Temple HSC said it comes down to respect. “Our wages don’t let us feel respected or appreciated for what we do. We deal with a lot.” Deval continued, “[this protest] lets us know we are being heard. And to whoever it may concern, it shows that we know what we are talking about.”

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