The year was 2009. The Obamas were still getting used to sleeping in the White House. AI was about to make his second go-round with the Sixers. If you liked music, you could buy a Sony Walkman at Circuit City or an iPod Shuffle at CompUSA. Instagram hadn't been invented yet. It was a cool time. 

But sadly, 2009 was the last time Pennsylvania raised its minimum wage, to $7.25.

Even then, living on minimum wage was not easy. After college, I tried to support myself on minimum wage. Despite working full time, living with three other guys in a two-bedroom apartment, and living frugally, I still needed to write home to my family every so often to ask for help making my $500 rent. And I'll never forget when I had to break into my U.S. state quarter collection book to afford bus fare.

Today, it's even harder to live on minimum wage. The cost of living is 50% higher than it was in 2009. Unreasonable Washington policies such as high tariffs only make things worse for neighbors. Our local workers deserve and need a raise.

That's why I'm helping to lead efforts here in Pennsylvania to support workers. I helped introduce two minimum wage bills that would raise hourly pay to at least $15 for Philadelphia workers and ensure the wage rises yearly to keep up with the cost of living. This month, our minimum wage bill passed the chamber with a one-vote margin. The Senate must now do the right thing to get these low-wage workers the support they need.

However, minimum wage is not the only space in 2025 where workers need help. Over 9,000 workers from AFSCME District Council 33 voted to strike if they did not get a fair wage increase. These workers serve in some of our city's most demanding and thankless roles, including cleaning our streets, taking our trash and recycling, answering our 911 calls, and caring for our world-class airport. 

Unfortunately, many of these city workers are not paid close to a living wage, and some even depend on public assistance. I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with these workers at a recent press conference in Center City.

Nurses and technicians at Chestnut Hill Hospital also threatened to strike if they did not receive a fair contract. These workers were without a contract since they voted to unionize in December 2023. And workers at Starbucks in Chestnut Hill on Germantown Avenue just voted to unionize. As a former Starbucks barista, I know the importance of fair pay and benefits.

The relationship between workers and management should be a symbiotic partnership — mutually beneficial and supportive. As an elected official, I believe it is essential that I use my influence to pass legislation supporting workers and show up to help workers and their employers find common ground. 

Hopefully, 2025 will be the year wages begin to catch up with the cost of living, and our neighbors get the raises they deserve. 

(State Rep. Tarik Khan represents Manayunk, Roxborough and parts of Chestnut Hill.)