HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder, on behalf of the over 800,000 unionized workers in Pennsylvania, expressed their support for fast food workers and all workers including those in retail and services who are taking collective action to improve their wages and working conditions.

"We fully support all workers as they are coming together for a stronger voice to improve their lives and restore the value of work. The majority of these workers are adults. They are trying eke out a living on low wages. Many of them are working two or three jobs. They are employed by some of the largest most profitable corporations on the planet. Whether it is McDonalds, Walmart, or Home Depot these corporations can afford to pay their employees decent wages and benefits. These workers are following the traditions of generations of workers who came together to improve their lives and build a middle class. The path to better wages and rebuilding our middle class it to unionize. We fully support their struggle," Bloomingdale said.

"Our laws should ensure that all workers earn a living wage to support themselves and their families. Increasing the minimum wage for all workers is one of the most effective ways of boosting the economy by putting additional income into the pockets of workers who spend every additional increase on the necessities of living instead of having to depend on public assistance. We are excited that the Congress is looking into raising the minimum wage so that it will once again be a living wage for millions of low wage workers. We support raising the minimum wage for all workers," Snyder added.

SOURCE Pennsylvania AFL-CIO