Fast-food workers and advocates for raising the minimum wage in Philadelphia are ready to make their case at a City Council hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 4.

Workers will call on Council members to pass a resolution asking for a $15 minimum wage in Philadelphia and for the overturn of the statewide ban on municipal minimum wage hikes.

“Pennsylvania has a so-called preemption law that is widely interpreted as banning cities from raising the minimum wage above state levels, which is $7.25 in Pennsylvania,” said Kate Goodman, member of the coalition 15Now. “However we are challenging that interpretation and building political pressure to assert Philadelphia’s right to act on behalf of low-wage workers.”

The group stated that it will push for a home rule charter amendment on the November ballot to “demonstrate the broad support for $15 an hour in Philadelphia and to lay the groundwork to challenge preemption language that attempts to bar Pennsylvania cities from raising the minimum wage.”

Low-wage workers from different industries will testify about the impact of low wages on Philadelphia families and communities, as will economists, presenting data from cities that have raised wages, seen job growth and increased economic stability.