Pittsburgh Council unanimously supports prevailing wage
A measure that would guarantee hotel, cafeteria and building maintenance workers at future city-subsidized development sites wages equal to the average of their peers citywide has the support of all members of Pittsburgh City Council.
"We believe that when tax dollars are invested in development, hardworking Pittsburgers should be paid at least the going rate," Council President Darlene Harris said today at a public hearing on the bill. "I look forward to the passing of the prevailing wage bill for the second time."
All nine council members are co-sponsors on the bill, which 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. A preliminary vote on the bill is scheduled for Wednesday.
"The prevailing wage bill promotes good business standards and responsible use of tax dollars," said Rev. John Welch, president of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, a network of faith-based organizations that deal with local and regional issues. "We can't allow businesses to use our tax dollars to keep Pittsburgh families in poverty any longer."
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl vetoed the prevailing wage bill, saying it would have hurt development efforts. Ravenstahl then proposed his own version of prevailing wage legislation that has garnered little support from council members.
Councilman Ricky Burgess last week reintroduced a 2001 living wage bill that he says will affect more than the few hundred workers the prevailing wage bill would. Living wage is the hourly rate individuals must earn to support their families if they are the sole provider and are working full-time.
The bill required the city delay implementation until Allegheny County implemented its own living wage legislation. County council considered living wage legislation, but it was defeated by a majority of its members.
"Martin Luther King said every worker in this country deserves a living wage," Burgess said. "If it's good enough for Martin, it's good enough for me."
The living wage ordinance applies to employers who receive city contracts of $10,000 or more and/or city assistance of at least $50,000. The 2001 bill, which was signed by then-Mayor Tom Murphy, required employers pay their workers $9.12 an hour plus health insurance, or $10.62 an hour without health insurance. City Controller Michael Lamb would calculate the current living wage, Burgess said. The rates have not yet been calculated.
It would affect for-profit employers with at least 10 employees or non-profit employers with at least 25 employees. The measure would also extend to city authorities.
Council is scheduled for a tentative vote on the living wage bill Feb. 17.
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"We believe that when tax dollars are invested in development, hardworking Pittsburgers should be paid at least the going rate," Council President Darlene Harris said today at a public hearing on the bill. "I look forward to the passing of the prevailing wage bill for the second time."
All nine council members are co-sponsors on the bill, which 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. A preliminary vote on the bill is scheduled for Wednesday.
"The prevailing wage bill promotes good business standards and responsible use of tax dollars," said Rev. John Welch, president of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, a network of faith-based organizations that deal with local and regional issues. "We can't allow businesses to use our tax dollars to keep Pittsburgh families in poverty any longer."
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl vetoed the prevailing wage bill, saying it would have hurt development efforts. Ravenstahl then proposed his own version of prevailing wage legislation that has garnered little support from council members.
Councilman Ricky Burgess last week reintroduced a 2001 living wage bill that he says will affect more than the few hundred workers the prevailing wage bill would. Living wage is the hourly rate individuals must earn to support their families if they are the sole provider and are working full-time.
The bill required the city delay implementation until Allegheny County implemented its own living wage legislation. County council considered living wage legislation, but it was defeated by a majority of its members.
"Martin Luther King said every worker in this country deserves a living wage," Burgess said. "If it's good enough for Martin, it's good enough for me."
The living wage ordinance applies to employers who receive city contracts of $10,000 or more and/or city assistance of at least $50,000. The 2001 bill, which was signed by then-Mayor Tom Murphy, required employers pay their workers $9.12 an hour plus health insurance, or $10.62 an hour without health insurance. City Controller Michael Lamb would calculate the current living wage, Burgess said. The rates have not yet been calculated.
It would affect for-profit employers with at least 10 employees or non-profit employers with at least 25 employees. The measure would also extend to city authorities.
Council is scheduled for a tentative vote on the living wage bill Feb. 17.