News Archive of January 2010

Council gives preliminary OK to prevailing wage legislation
Released Date: 28 Jan 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Prevailing wage rules that roiled Pittsburgh government for months flowed smoothly to tentative city council approval Wednesday, following last-day talks that smoothed the waters.

"It will literally change lives" by helping people out of poverty, predicted new Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak, who introduced nine of the 12 amendments that broadened support for the measure. "A prevailing wage absolutely will not be a deterrent for development."

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Pittsburgh City Council gives OK to its own prevailing wage bill
Released Date: 28 Jan 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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.

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City council on round two for prevailing wage
Released Date: 27 Jan 2010

Press: New Pittsburgh Courier

The nine members of Pittsburgh City Council have signed on as co-sponsors of prevailing wage legislation that will require employers to pay certain service industry workers a wage on par with others in the industry. Although the bill won’t be voted on until Feb. 2, many giving testimony at the public hearing for the bill on Jan. 25 felt like Groundhog Day had come a week early.

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Pittsburgh Council unanimously supports prevailing wage
Released Date: 25 Jan 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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."

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Workers, developers spar at Pittsburgh prevailing wage hearing
Released Date: 25 Jan 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bridget Noel, a custodian at the University of Pittsburgh, cries as she tells a gathering of union members what her life was like when she worked for a low salary and no benefits.

Prevailing wage backers and skeptics held what appears to be a final face-off today as Pittsburgh City Council hosted a public hearing ahead of a likely Wednesday vote on the controversial development rules.

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Protestors Emotional at Prevailing Wage Rally
Released Date: 25 Jan 2010

Press: KDKA TV

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Prevailing wage bill gains support
Released Date: 19 Jan 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Rev. David Thornton, of Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church in the Hill District, speaks to a gathering about the prevailing wage legislation outside Pittsburgh Schenley High in East Liberty.

Backers of prevailing wage legislation under consideration by Pittsburgh City Council yesterday added religious fervor to a debate that had, until then, been largely about development and dollars.

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Prevailing Wage Bill Due at County Level
Released Date: 18 Jan 2010

Press: Pittsburgh City Paper

We've gotten word that at tomorrow's county council meeting, county councilor Bill Robinson will propose "prevailing wage" legislation similar to that pending before the city. There have been rumblings about this bill for awhile now, but Robinson himself left a message at CP offices earlier today indicating his intention to introduce the measure tomorrow.

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