Findings from Friday's Forum reinforce the necessity for CEJ's work in Buffalo. A look at the precarious position occupied by WNY's workers highlights the need for CEJ's campaigns focused on Living Wages and accountable economic development. As we delve into friday's findings, we'll see just how important a CBA (Community Benefits Agreement) can be in addressing the need for GOOD JOBS in our city.
The workshop featured presentations from prominent local scholars, including presentations from:
- Dr. Kathryn Foster, Regional Institute of Buffalo, University at Buffalo
- Dr. Wende Mix, Geography, Buffalo State
- Dr. Samina Raja, Urban and Regional Planning, University at Buffalo
- Dr. Erin Robinson, Sociology, Canisius College
- Dr. Henry Taylor, Center for Urban Studies, University at Buffalo
Findings presented at Friday's forum present both challenges facing WNY as well as possible solutions for a more secure future...
Dr. Foster of the Regional Institute, highlighting findings found in Regional Institute's February 2010 Policy Brief; "Playing an Insecure Hand: Low-Wage Workers in the New Economy," presented on the new landscape in WNY for job-seekers, and what can be done to alleviate such strains on workers...
Between 2004 and 2008,
- WNY saw a 17% increase in low-wage jobs (0-$30,000)
- WNY saw a 6% increase in high-paying jobs ($70,000+)
- WNY saw a 10% decline in middle-wage occupations. ($30,000-$70,000)
As manufacturing jobs have left western New York, the region has seen an obvious decline inrelative wealth, in 1969 Buffalo ranked 31st in average wage per job at $41,629, almost forty years later in 2008, Buffalo has dropped to 155 in average wage per job at $39,214. In 2009, 46% of all jobs in Western New York earned less than 30,000 per year...
As a result of the limited opportunities available to WNY workers, more families have taken to working multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. Buffalo has seen a rise in the number of households with multiple workers- up to 60%. While employement levels in Western New York mirror national averages, it is the level of under-employment which most threatens today's workers.
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Dr. Wende Mix, a geography professor at Buffalo State College presented his findings on "The Geography of Urban Poverty." Dr. Mix's analysis of Poverty in Western New York have presented some interesting statistics on the economic landscape here in Buffalo, and how Buffalo measures up across the nation.
Described as the 3rd Poorest Metropolitan Area in the United States, Dr. Mix presents a different look at Buffalo as it compares with other Urban areas:
- 50% of Metro Areas in the United States have the same, or greater proportion of families below the federal poverty line.
- 10% of Buffalo Families currently live below the federal poverty line.
- 69% of all Families in Western New York living below the federal poverty line are Female Householder with no husband present. (31% of all Female Householder, no husband families live below the poverty line.)
- Less than 10% of urban areas have the same or greater proportion of Hispanic/Latino persons living under the poverty line.
- Buffalo, NY has African-Americans living below the poverty level than 55% of US Urban Areas.
What does this mean? Buffalo, NY has similar poverty levels as those reported across the nation. However, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino, and Single-mother households are being hit the hardest!!! What can Buffalo do to address these issues?_________________________________________________________
Looking at the landscape for WNY's future, What can we do to address these issues?
The Regional Institute of Buffalo has suggested government-mandated Living Wage policies as a proven method for lifitng people out of poverty. The Coalition for Economic Justice has supported Living Wages since our founding, and have won Living Wage resolutions at the City, County, and School Board levels over the past decade.
Furthermore, The Institute recommends other pro-work policies such as subsidies for healthcare, childcare, utilities and trasportation. Sliding scales for eligibility must be introduced as poverty-level indicators are often out of touch with reality, and families earning $1 over threshholds have negative incentives to continue working.
These recommendations are timely, as CEJ fights for full-compliance of a Living Wage resolution supported by the Buffalo School Board to extend coverage to over 1,000 workers. Furthermore, childcare subsidies have recently come under attack, with CEJ, VOICE-Buffalo, and numerous community organizations and leaders pushing for the County Executive to extend benefits to nearly 1,500 families whose income, while barely over the poverty-line, disqualifies them for assistance.
After looking at both the recommendations of the Regional Institute, as well as, Dr. Mix's geographical breakdown of WNY it seems now, more than ever, we need a Community Benefits Agreement to ensure the Canalside Project brings the types of jobs we need for Western New York!
The Canalside development, as is, would bring another 1400 Low-wage jobs to WNY, with an average annual salary of $22,000- WNY doesn't need more low-wage jobs!!!!
Our CBA would:
- mandate living wages for all businesses with more than 20 employees
- mandate minority hiring (a necessity in a region with African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos hit harder than other demographics)
- include affordable housing- Canalside's wage-laborers must be able to afford to live where they work
- Local Independent Business Development- 75% of commercial space must be reserved for local businesses, with special consideration for women and minority-owned businesses (also a necessity with single-mother households hit especially hard in WNY)
There are challenging issues facing the workers of Western New York. Friday's forum was an opportunity for those around the region to share insights on the future of our city. With WNY inundated with an ever-growing class of low-wage laborers, and losses in middle-income positions it seems the Coalition for Economic Justice's fight for Living Wages, and a Community Benefits Agreement for our Waterfront are more pressing than ever in shaping the vision for our economic future.
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