Stronger Together

Good jobs help our economy

After years of stretching their budgets to cover basic expenses, New York City’s working families are at the breaking point. In fact, more than three million New Yorkers are trying to make ends meet on low incomes.

New York’s working families and our city’s economy will not rebound without economic development that helps create good jobs. Unless we focus on rebuilding a strong base of good jobs in New York, we will find it harder and harder to rebuild a middle class that can purchase the goods and services that keep businesses thriving and our economy growing.

Cities and states across the country understand this and have already passed legislation, like the Good Jobs Bill, sending a clear message that public tax dollars should not subsidize poverty-level jobs.

The Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance

With a population of 3.8 million, and home to over 30% of the all business firms in the entire state of California (U.S. Census 2002), Los Angeles was the first major city to adopt a living wage law. Advocates successfully made the case that in subsidizing poverty level jobs the City was ultimately compromising the quality of city services. LA’s living wage law applies to firms that receive economic development subsidies, service contractors, subcontractors, and lessees such as airlines and concessionaires that operate on city land. A four year study conducted after the enactment of the Living Wage Ordinance found that it had raised pay for nearly 10,000 jobs, and resulted in the loss of just 112 positions (only 1% of total jobs impacted!). LA set an important precedent over ten years ago, isn’t it time that New York City caught up? To learn more about the LA Living Wage Ordinance check out the resources below.

Pittsburgh Prevailing Wage Victory Sets Comprehensive Precedent

In February of the year, Pittsburgh passed the country’s most comprehensive law, ensuring that developments benefiting from city incentives pay their service workers the prevailing wage. Covering building service, food service, and hotel and grocery workers, Pittsburgh’s Prevailing Wage Law advances the precedent for tying taxpayer funded economic development subsidies to good jobs that benefit entire communities. This same legislation was passed by the Alleghany County Council in April, sending a firm message to businesses that if they want to take government money then they need to maintain and create family sustaining jobs.

Maryland Commits to Lifting Tens of Thousands of Families Out of Poverty with Living Wage Law and Introduces Prevailing Wage Law

In 2007 Maryland passed a law requiring employers with state contracts to pay their workers at minimum of $11.30 if they work in Baltimore-Washington corridor, and $8.50 an hour if work in rural counties. The minimum wage for the state of Maryland is currently set at $7.25 an hour. Though still modest, these wages are a huge boost for low wage workers who oftentimes have to turn to public benefit programs to supplement their low wages. The bill was overwhelmingly backed by Marylanders in every region, and had considerable support among small business owners who felt the bill would benefit them by improving local economies and reducing poverty. Political and labor advocates in Maryland are taking this victory to the next step by introducing legislation that would plug gaps in the law that allow businesses to continue paying their workers poverty level wages, and will tie prevailing wage standards to recipients of state subsides.

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