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Below you can read about some of what's been happening with the Good Jobs Bill.

Don't stop now - we're getting there!

Creating more good jobs is key to revitalizing the borough

Published Date:

Tue, 08/31/2010 - 12:03pm

Publication:

NY Daily News (Queens Edition)

From Long Island City to Queens Village, re-zoning and re-development are changing the face of Queens neighborhoods, but it may not be doing all that it should to help improve the quality of life for the borough’s working families.

A startling 34% of working people in Queens are struggling to get by on jobs that don’t let them support their families or contribute to our local businesses and economy. read more »

Mayor Bloomberg under fire for his 'trickle-down theory': Spend money to make money

Published Date:

Sun, 05/16/2010 - 4:00am

The Bloomberg administration said it would force rents up, but it has strong Council support. (It helps that the bill is backed by building workers union 32BJ, which backs the Working Families Party, which helped some Council members get elected.)

Mayor Bloomberg has a trickle-down theory of New York's economy: Spend money to make money, and make sure the people at the top have money to spend.

He believes in generating jobs through big projects like rebuilding Coney Island and Willets Point - subsidizing them with tax breaks and public money if necessary.read more »

Council voting on biz owners' bill of rights

Published Date:

Wed, 05/12/2010 - 12:00pm

Publication:

Crain's New York

Some days are better for business in New York City than others.

Tuesday morning, the City Council heard testimony on a prevailing wage bill then met again to consider a law requiring businesses to provide paid sick days to employees. Wednesday, however, the salt of government regulation may be replaced with something of a sweetener.

The City Council is expected to pass a business owner's bill of rights that would advise businesses in writing of their rights during a city inspection. The bill has sped through the council since it was introduced March 25 and has the support of both City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

read more »

Mayor Bloomberg, City Council in tug of war over bills to help 'working poor'

Published Date:

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 7:32pm

Publication:

NY Daily News

The mayor and City Council played tug of war Tuesday over two bills to make private employers shell out more to their workers.

One plan would require all private employers to provide workers a minimum of five days of paid sick leave a year.

The other bill would require building owners who receive city tax breaks or other subsidies to pay their building maintenance workers a prevailing industry wage.

Both measures are largely aimed at helping the so-called "working poor," many of whom are paid the minimum wage and receive skimpy or no benefits.

Council sponsors, and their supporters, pushed the measures with opponents at separate hearings. read more »

Economic Recovery Starts With Good Jobs

Published Date:

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 12:00pm

Publication:

The Nation

With 15 million people unemployed and fears of a jobless recovery spreading, getting Americans back to work is a national priority. Yet, as we invest millions of tax dollars to stimulate the economy through job creation, we may not be paying close enough attention to the quality of these jobs. Creating jobs that pay poverty-like wages might feel like a quick fix to some, but if it doesn’t get working families back on their feet, it won’t do much for our economy. read more »

Council and Administration Spar Over Wages

Published Date:

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 12:00pm

Publication:

Gotham Gazette (The Wonkster)

Supporters of the bill, including 32BJ, saw that preference as a way to delay the proposal.

“The issue of doing a study has been going on for five years,” said 32BJ Executive Vice President Kevin Doyle – who represents service employees and is a major supporter of the bill. “The time to do a study and use that to deter action is passed.”

The administration says it’s open to sitting down with council members to discuss a bill to require prevailing wages for service employees at city subsidized developments.

But that was after a representative from the administration said the bill would squash economic development, lower property tax revenue, test the fate of senior centers (not to mention the myriad nonprofit capital projects council members hold dearly) and is, in a nutshell, against the city charter. read more »

City to Contest Wage Bill

Published Date:

Tue, 05/11/2010 - 12:00pm

Publication:

The Wall Street Journal

Mike Fishman, president of 32BJ, the largest private-sector union in the state with more than 70,000 members, countered that the legislation is about fairness.

"We cannot continue using tax dollars to create poverty-wage jobs," Mr. Fishman said. "Our communities suffer when families are unable to make ends meet on low-wage work."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration will oppose Tuesday a City Council bill that would mandate a prevailing wage for building service employees in buildings that collect rent from any agency or group that receives $10,000 or more in funding from the city. read more »

Prevailing winds for prevailing wage

Published Date:

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 12:00pm

Publication:

Crain's New York

City Councilman James Vacca, D-Bronx, signed on—a win for union 32BJ SEIU, which represents building service workers. The union has launched NotOnOurDime.org to promote the bill.

Supporters of a bill requiring prevailing wages for office cleaners, residential building workers and security guards at city-subsidized developments picked up a 34th sponsor last week, giving the measure enough backers to override an expected mayoral veto.

City Councilman James Vacca, D-Bronx, signed on—a win for union 32BJ SEIU, which represents building service workers. The union has launched NotOnOurDime.org to promote the bill. read more »

32BJ Gears Up For Wage Hearing

Published Date:

Tue, 05/04/2010 - 4:33pm

Publication:

NY Daily News - The Daily Politics Blog

The 70,000+ New York-member 32BJ has a new website, www.NotOnOurDime.org, and will be launching a web-ad blitz in support of City Council Intro 18-2010.

Says the new website:

"The Good Jobs Bill, Intro 18-2010, would help ensure family-sustaining jobs are created at developments supported by our tax dollars. By guaranteeing the prevailing wage -- the going rate in the city -- for office cleaners, residential building workers and security officers, the bill would not only create good jobs for working families but also ensure that established businesses are not undercut by subsidized developers."

The bill, introduced in February, is slated for a hearing on Tuesday, May 11. read more »

Alba Vasquez

Tell the City Council to support the Good Jobs Bill!

TAKE ACTION!

Step 1 Find your City Council Member by clicking HERE.

Step 2 Complete the form - tell your Council Member you don’t want your tax dollars funding poverty-wage jobs. read more »

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