In the News - Fair Economy

Group pushing green alternatives
Released Date: 23 Nov 2011

Press: Valley Herald

Canvassers from the coalition Pittsburgh United have been knocking on doors in Sharpsburg to alert residents about a multibillion-dollar project by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority that potentially could double sewage rates for many of its customers.

Alcosan officials are proposing a $4 billion to $6 billion option to keep raw sewage out of the three rivers by sinking mammoth holding tunnels along the rivers from Emsworth to Etna and Braddock that would store sewage overflow during heavy wet weather.

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700 march in Greenfield jobs rally
Released Date: 18 Nov 2011

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

About 700 people from local unions, advocacy groups and faith organizations marched to the Greenfield Bridge Thursday to call for jobs and restoration of the American dream.

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200 Hill residents jockey for jobs at new arena
Released Date: 27 May 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Larry Bates, 23, of the Hill District fills out a job application for Consol Energy Center during a meeting Wednesday in Wesley Center AME Church.

Collette Brooks wants a chance at a job in Consol Energy Center.

"Just let me get in the door. I'm gonna tear it up," the 50-year-old Hill District resident said Wednesday evening.

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Over 200 apply for arena jobs--Hill District residents get first break at Consol Energy Center hirings
Released Date: 27 May 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Timia Harris, center, from the Hill House Center, passes out applications on Wednesday for part-time employment at the new Consol Energy Center at Wesley Center AME Church in the Hill District. John Heller/Post-Gazette

One after another, more than 200 residents of the Hill District filed into the Wesley Center AME Church on Wednesday evening to fill out four-page applications for better futures.

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Metro Inequality: What Cities Can Do About the Shrinking Middle Class
Released Date: 14 May 2010

Press: Huffington Post

A series of new realities about the places Americans live "further put to rest the old perceptions of cities as declining, poor, minority places set amid young, white wealthy suburbs" announces a new study by the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. Bringing together a wealth of new demographic data, the report documents how the nation's suburbs have become more diverse and have seen a new increase in poverty, while central cities have gained population from the suburbs since the housing market crash.

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Economic Recovery Starts With Good Jobs
Released Date: 11 May 2010

Press: The Nation

With 15 million people unemployed and fears of a jobless recovery spreading, getting Americans back to work is a national priority. Yet, as we invest millions of tax dollars to stimulate the economy through job creation, we may not be paying close enough attention to the quality of these jobs. Creating jobs that pay poverty-like wages might feel like a quick fix to some, but if it doesn’t get working families back on their feet, it won’t do much for our economy.

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New Pittsburgh Law Guarantees Good Service Jobs at Developments
Released Date: 24 Feb 2010

Press: PR Newswire

Country's Most Comprehensive Law Requires Good Permanent Jobs at Subsidized Developments and through City Contracts

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Prevailing wage bill unanimously approved
Released Date: 3 Feb 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Hotel, cafeteria and building maintenance workers at future city-subsidized developments are in line for a pay raise within the next two months following city council's unanimous approval Tuesday of a prevailing wage bill.

The measure would apply to employers at future developments of 100,000 square feet or larger and grocery stores 25,000 square feet or larger that receive $100,000 or more in city subsidies or that contract with the city.

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Council approves prevailing wage legislation
Released Date: 3 Feb 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Council gave final, unanimous approval Tuesday to legislation that would ensure that hotel, grocery, janitorial and cafeteria workers at future city-subsidized development sites earn prevailing wages matching those their typical peers get citywide.

"We worked really hard to get to a bill that everyone could support," said Gabe Morgan, Western Pennsylvania director of Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ.

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Pittsburgh Council unanimously approves prevailing wage
Released Date: 2 Feb 2010

Press: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Council gave final approval today to prevailing wage legislation that would ensure that hotel, grocery, janitorial and cafeteria workers at future city-subsidized development sites earn what their typical peers get citywide.

Originally introduced in November, the legislation generated months of vigorous debate, repeated rallies, public hearings, a New Year's Eve veto and a failed override bid. But today's final approval came with no debate, amendments or no votes.

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