Pittsburgh City Council gives OK to its own prevailing wage bill
Despite a legal opinion questioning portions of a controversial prevailing wage bill, City Council on Wednesday preliminarily approved the measure.
If adopted, the bill would guarantee wages equal to the average of their peers for hotel, cafeteria and building maintenance workers at future city-subsidized developments.
All nine council members co-sponsored and voted for the bill, introduced by Councilman Doug Shields. A final vote will likely be held on Tuesday.
"City Council stood up for Pittsburgh's working families and taxpayers," said Gabe Morgan of the Service Employees International Union. "No longer will Pittsburgh hand out public dollars to create poverty jobs."
Council approved amendments introduced by Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak. They include having the city controller issue wage determinations at least once a year and requiring the controller to review, investigate and make decisions on complaints within 60 days.
In a 45-page legal opinion sent to council members Tuesday, Associate City Solicitor Yvonne Hilton said the city cannot require authorities like the Urban Redevelopment Authority or the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to comply with the ordinance, saying they are "independent agencies not subject to the control (of the city)."
Shields disagrees. He said the city's authorities are under the city's control and must follow laws enacted by council.
Shields originally proposed the bill in November, and it was approved by council. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl vetoed it, saying it would hurt development efforts. Ravenstahl proposed his own version of the legislation, which was tabled by council. Shields reintroduced the current bill. It's unclear whether the mayor will veto the bill again.