PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Actor and activist Danny Glover joined Philadelphia school workers to announce a new resolution that will be introduced by Councilman Wilson Goode, Jr. The resolution could raise wages for hundreds of the lowest paid workers in Philadelphia's schools. It calls on the School Reform Commission (SRC) to adopt the "Philadelphia 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard." The law, enacted in 2005 and introduced by Councilman Goode, ensures that workers employed by the city, its agencies, contractors and city financial aid recipients pay workers at least 150 percent of the federal minimum wage.

More than 1,900 food service workers and noon time aides in Philadelphia's schools earn below the $10.88 minimum wage set by the standard -- in fact most earn $1.36/hour less than the standard. This school year alone, there will be a $2.1 million difference between workers' salaries and what the standard requires. Goode will be introducing the SRC Living Wage Resolution during the council's Thursday meeting.

"It's been very hard to live off of my wage," said Thedalia Robinson, a long time school district employee. "I have problems with high blood pressure, and I want to get my dentures fixed but I don't have the means. Sometimes I don't go to the clinic because I don't have the money to pay the bill to get my prescription."

Noted international human rights activist and actor Danny Glover was moved to action by workers' stories. Glover was in town to show his support for workers' efforts to build a stronger union and raise their standards of living.

"Labor unions have been a real force for good in the life of my family and in so many other families like mine," said Glover. "Unfortunately, food service workers and noon time aides in Philadelphia's schools haven't had the wages, benefits and respect they deserve."

"Philadelphia school workers give so much to our children and our communities," said Lynn Fox, Manager of the Philadelphia Joint Board of Workers United/SEIU, a labor union that seeks to represent the Cafeteria Workers and Noon Time Aides. "It's time for the school district to realize its obligation to workers and pay a living wage."

The Philadelphia Joint Board of Workers United/SEIU was established in 1920 to represent garment and manufacturing workers in local unions throughout Philadelphia. Over the next 90 years, the Philadelphia Joint Board expanded to represent workers in school cafeterias, food service, hotels, laundries, distribution centers, manufacturing, and airports.

Workers United/SEIU is a union of 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the food service, laundry, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textile, manufacturing and distribution industries. www.workersunitedunion.org

SOURCE Workers United

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