Advocacy groups rally for workers rights

HARRISBURG, PA — We the People held a rally this afternoon to welcome lawmakers as they walk up the state capitol steps for the first day of the legislative session.

MomsRising, CASA, SEIU Local 668, and the owners of Queen’s BBQ teamed up to encourage lawmakers to help workers and business owners.

They say the pandemic has been rough, and it’s not over yet.

They’re encouraging lawmakers to raise the minimum wage, support small businesses left out of federal and state pandemic funding and help working families with paid leave and better, more affordable child care options.

“I ask today that you all think of people like me people like my husband who put all that we have into our small business our time our efforts we’ve lost things,” said Anya Limpkin Queen who owns Queen’s BBQ with her husband.

They opened their restaurant in January, just before the pandemic, so they weren’t able to show proof of financial hardship to secure federal or state funding.

“When you help small businesses you help workers because you make it possible for small businesses to hire more people. When you help workers you help small businesses because putting money in the hands of workers enables them to buy goods and services from our small businesses,” said chair of the We the People campaign Marc Stier.

The group is bringing attention to the $7 billion of American Rescue Plan funding that’s gone unused. They say lawmakers are putting it aside in a rainy day fund, but the business owners say it’s raining, it hasn’t stopped raining, and they need support from their legislators.