That Union Thing

Living Wage Comes to Broward

Following the lead of Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach, Palm Beach County, and more than 85 cities across the U.S., Broward County recently adopted a minimum living wage of $9.57 an hour. The wage applies to county employees as well as 31 service-oriented companies that hold county contracts. Companies that do not provide health insurance will be required to pay an additional $1.25 per hour.

Living wage campaigns are as much about demanding accountability from companies profiting from taxpayer dollars as they are about raising wages.

Studies have shown that living wage ordinances do not result in job loss, and taking wages out of competition helps stabilize the community wage floor and prevent a race to the bottom by employers who “low ball” wages to gain an advantage. The actual increase mandated by living wage requirements is usually only a small portion of a company’s total production costs, easily offset by the economic advantages of having a government contract (such as reduced lease prices, redevelopment contracts, use of municipal services, and more).

Because of inflation, the federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has 20 percent less buying power than the minimum wage had in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Bravo to Broward county for doing the right thing and treating its employees fairly!

Union News From AFL-CIO Work in Progress

DIGNITY FOR DISNEY PART-TIMERS—More than 5,000 part-time workers at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., joined approximately 25,000 full-time Disney World employees represented by the Service Trades Council. The council includes Theatrical Stage Employees, Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees, Teamsters, Transportation Communications Union and Food and Commercial Workers local unions.

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