Pittsburgh council urges state to raise minimum wage to $15

Pittsburgh City Council on May 13, 2025 approved a will of council urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass HB 1150 to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and to allow municipalities local wage-setting authority.

Councilwoman Warwick presented the resolution on the council floor, describing trends she said make a higher wage necessary for local workers and referencing the number included in the resolution that “1,300,000 Pennsylvania workers would benefit from a $15 per hour minimum wage.” The resolution also urges that any state law include an annual cost-of-living adjustment and lift state preemption on municipal wage policy.

Councilwoman Ward spoke in support during discussion, saying, “in this economy, no one should be making less than $15 an hour,” and describing conversations with seniors and other residents about low pay.

The measure was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote; the record shows the will of council was approved but does not include a roll-call tally for the measure.

The resolution as presented directs that a copy be distributed to the Allegheny County delegation to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and to the office of Governor Josh Shapiro. The text presented on the floor cites Representative Ronnie Greene’s HB 1150 by name as the bill the council urged the legislature to pass.

Because the action is a formal expression of the council’s position (a will of council), it does not itself change city wage law; the resolution requests state action and asks that state legislation include specified provisions.

The council approved the will of council during the May 13 meeting; no further implementation steps for city action were recorded during the meeting.