Pittsburgh City Council debates prevailing-wage rules
Faith Jetter admittedly doesn't know much about a proposal before City Council that would require employers occupying publicly subsidized buildings to pay market-rate wages.
But the 46-year-old housekeeper at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, Downtown, does know what it's like to live in poverty.
"I know what it's like having to decide whether to pay rent or feed my kids, or keeping the gas on or buying my children shoes," Jetter said. "I currently have a union job, but I spent many years in non-union hotels."
Legislation before City Council would require employers to pay janitors, kitchen workers and grocery store employees who work in publicly funded buildings a prevailing wage -- the median of what other workers in their industry are being paid locally. The median is the point at which half are paid more and half less.
The proposal would affect projects that get $100,000 or more in city subsidies and are larger than 100,000 square feet, except for grocery stores, which would have a lower threshold of 30,000 square feet.
Discussion about the prevailing wage bill lasted more than five hours over the course of two meetings yesterday. Council members could vote on the bill proposed by Councilman Doug Shields as early as Wednesday.
"We often talk about the importance of economic development and what it means to the city," said Councilman Bruce Kraus. "If subsidized development creates a subsidized work force that depends on food stamps, we're not doing our jobs. What we're doing is a disservice."
Opponents have said that requiring a prevailing wage would hinder development. Local developers have said it would make it difficult to attract retailers.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he's concerned the measure puts the city at a "competitive disadvantage."
"We hopefully will be able to get a bill that's acceptable to everybody and really doesn't harm the ability for the city to grow," he said.
Mark Minnerly, director of real estate at Mosites Corp., an area developer, said prevailing wages aren't the issue.
"It's the change in corporate policy on how to run one store out of 500," he said.
But the 46-year-old housekeeper at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, Downtown, does know what it's like to live in poverty.
"I know what it's like having to decide whether to pay rent or feed my kids, or keeping the gas on or buying my children shoes," Jetter said. "I currently have a union job, but I spent many years in non-union hotels."
Legislation before City Council would require employers to pay janitors, kitchen workers and grocery store employees who work in publicly funded buildings a prevailing wage -- the median of what other workers in their industry are being paid locally. The median is the point at which half are paid more and half less.
The proposal would affect projects that get $100,000 or more in city subsidies and are larger than 100,000 square feet, except for grocery stores, which would have a lower threshold of 30,000 square feet.
Discussion about the prevailing wage bill lasted more than five hours over the course of two meetings yesterday. Council members could vote on the bill proposed by Councilman Doug Shields as early as Wednesday.
"We often talk about the importance of economic development and what it means to the city," said Councilman Bruce Kraus. "If subsidized development creates a subsidized work force that depends on food stamps, we're not doing our jobs. What we're doing is a disservice."
Opponents have said that requiring a prevailing wage would hinder development. Local developers have said it would make it difficult to attract retailers.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he's concerned the measure puts the city at a "competitive disadvantage."
"We hopefully will be able to get a bill that's acceptable to everybody and really doesn't harm the ability for the city to grow," he said.
Mark Minnerly, director of real estate at Mosites Corp., an area developer, said prevailing wages aren't the issue.
"It's the change in corporate policy on how to run one store out of 500," he said.