Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is not giving up the fight to stop the county council's minimum wage ordinance.

It would raise the wage for county employees to $18 an hour, starting in January, then increase to $20 by 2026.

Earlier this month, Fitzgerald vetoed the measure. Then, council members overrode that veto. Now, Fitzgerald has asked the court of common pleas to decide whether it is legal for the council to pass such a measure.

"There is a legitimate disagreement on whether the executive branch or the legislative branch has the legal authority to set wages," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "It's an important legal question that requires immediate review and determination by the court."

Council members who voted in favor of the bill say they had a feeling this would happen.

”He has argued both that it costs too much money, that we don't have the legal authority to do it, and now that we as a body are not able to make fiscal decisions, the legislative body who approves a $3 billion budget every year,” said Councilperson Bethany Hallam.

Councilman Sam DeMarco disagrees, saying, "I think it validates the argument I made in council, which was this exceeded our responsibilities under the charter and violated PA labor law.

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lnd0YWUuY29tL2FydGlj...