Living Wage Victory!

CPI improvements pass unanimously

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved CPI's package of proposals to strengthen and extend the Living Wage Ordinance!  The vote Monday came after a rally and worker testimony organized by CPI, the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, and the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice.

This important victory will greatly boost the impact of the living wage law enacted in 2005.  It closes loopholes in the application of the law and creates a fair and open process for investigating and correcting violations by contractors.

Here's what the council approved:

Closing loopholes:

• The living wage law will apply to any service contract awarded through the privatization process called "managed competition."  
• The Civic Theatre will be added to the list of city facilities covered by the law.  This means 173 workers there -- including ushers, concession workers, security guards and janitors -- will get the living wage.

Enforcement:

• The City must investigate all worker complaints of violations of the Living Wage Ordinance in a reasonable timeframe.   
• If contractors do not correct confirmed violations within 30 days, the City has four options for further action, ranging from canceling the contract to filing a lawsuit that, if successful, would mean stiff fines and triple damages to the worker.
• Whistleblower protection is now part of the living wage law.  Contractors are prohibited from retaliating or in any way discriminating against workers who complain.

The living wage is the minimum companies must pay to workers on City contracts.  The wage level, which increases each year with inflation, is now $12.70 an hour, including health care coverage or a differential to buy health insurance.

For many working families, the living wage law has made the difference between living in poverty and living self sufficiently.  Now this valuable law will have more teeth!

Thank you to everyone who wrote letters or made phone calls, and especially to those who came out for the rally and council hearing yesterday!  Your voices were heard!