The Living Wage, based on the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), is as of January 1st, 2009, at $10.31 an hour for employees with health benefits and $11.57 for those without. Currently, the Living Wage in the city of Buffalo applies to all city employees and employees of companies that contract with the City, due to a law passed over 10 years ago through City Hall. CEJ fought long and hard to see the law upheld and in 2007 pressured public representatives to not only enforce their own policy, but to amend the law to include the COLA.
The New Year, including the impending "Greatest Depression," offers an opportunity to reflect on the need for innovative initiatives to stimulate the economy and protect ALL Americans, not just the obscenely wealthy. We have seen what an unregulated Market can offer, economic chaos and social devastation. The bailout of Wall Street and the "Big 3" Automotive Manufactures are too recent to see fully the ripple effect of those "stimulus" packages, however, it's not too recent to watch CEO's walk away from their failed financial institutions with tax payers money and the freedom of immense wealth. The Wall Street bailout or stimulus package were intended to, oddly enough, stimulate, boost, breath new life into the economy, and instead were pumped back into the pockets of the very same individuals who created the mess to begin with, and back to individuals who are more likely to save or invest their money then SPEND their money.
Living Wages. Even as we watch Wall Street burn, their still exists severe reservations and criticism regarding alternative stimulus options. It's a fairly simple argument; Pay low-wage workers more than a minimum wage. Low-wage earners are more likely to spend their money locally, boosting Main Streets everywhere. The fear is that Living Wages will destroy jobs, but their is no proof of this. Researchers have returned to Baltimore, Maryland, the first city to enact a living wage law back in the early '90's and have shown that job loss due to Living Wages is statistically negligible.
Truly beyond any economic argument, is the moral argument. It seems in direct defiance of all faiths to employ individuals at wage levels that KEEP them in POVERTY. We are a Country that places defines self worth by employment and material wealth, and yet, our policy makers, our public representatives are more than willing to veto legislation that would allow those who work to make livable wages. This is truly about what is fair and just for all, not just the few. It's unclear whatever happened to inalienable rights.
For basic facts on Living Wages, please see the fact sheet created by the Economic Policy Institute.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
SORRY!
With the elections behind us, CEJ will be more diligent regarding posts more regularly. Our apologies. We have been pounding turf, knocking on doors, and building power throughout the East Side. Through the efforts of groups like CEJ and others sharing the same model for civic engagement and voter turnout, turned record numbers of voters out to the polls.
Not only did we witness a historic moment at the Federal Level, but the NY State Senate also flipped to the Democrats for the first time in 40 years.
But our work CANNOT stop here. Our candidates have made commitments and promises, and we have to hold their feet to the fire. Holding elected officials accountable is a clear objective of CEJ. So, continue to put pressure on your elected officials.
Our work is far from over. Let us spend sometime celebrating our immense victories, but quickly, we must turn towards theState Budget Cuts, the fast decline of the American Automobile Industry, and the National Economic Crisis that will need repairing for years to come. Our democracy must now be defined by ALL the people, but this cannot happen unless we stick with our mission; to address poverty and build power for all workers through direct action, policy change, and civic engagement.
On another note.
Here are some hits in the media from the last few months worthy of reading or watching.
Buffalo Reacts to the Bailout-October '08
Buffalo News-Looking for a Blueprint to Fight Poverty in Buffalo-November '08
Oldie but a Goodie-Al Jazeera's piece on Buffalo-Summer '08
Not only did we witness a historic moment at the Federal Level, but the NY State Senate also flipped to the Democrats for the first time in 40 years.
But our work CANNOT stop here. Our candidates have made commitments and promises, and we have to hold their feet to the fire. Holding elected officials accountable is a clear objective of CEJ. So, continue to put pressure on your elected officials.
Our work is far from over. Let us spend sometime celebrating our immense victories, but quickly, we must turn towards theState Budget Cuts, the fast decline of the American Automobile Industry, and the National Economic Crisis that will need repairing for years to come. Our democracy must now be defined by ALL the people, but this cannot happen unless we stick with our mission; to address poverty and build power for all workers through direct action, policy change, and civic engagement.
On another note.
Here are some hits in the media from the last few months worthy of reading or watching.
Buffalo Reacts to the Bailout-October '08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW2eUwFeUnc\
Buffalo News-Looking for a Blueprint to Fight Poverty in Buffalo-November '08
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/488434.html
Oldie but a Goodie-Al Jazeera's piece on Buffalo-Summer '08
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Walking the Walk, Not Just Talking the Talk
Following the last Board of Education meeting of the summer, the Transportation Aides of Buffalo, one of the groups demanding the passage of a living wage policy, requested that the members of the Board of Education try to walk in their shoes for two weeks. The statement was incredibly simple, yet incredibly powerful. "I’m asking for one of you to stand in my shoes for two weeks, make the income that I do and pay your bills. Decide whether or not you should fill your prescriptions or feed your family. Try putting gas in your car, because I don’t have one,” said Betty Martin, President of the Transportation Aides of Buffalo (TAB).
Surprisingly, Board Member Ralph Hernandez offered to take Betty up on her offer. Sort of. He asked to ride along with her on one her daily routes and get a sense of the challenges she and the other bus aides face, ranging from low wages to violence on the bus.
We commend Ralph for taking this first step towards gaining perspective regarding the critical and difficult service the bus aides provide.
On another note, EMT's, Intermediates and Paramedics at Rural Metro Medical Services voted down a recent contract proposal. Their contract with Rural Metro expired on June 30th. The proposed contract was actually a 1 year extension of the prior 5 years contract. The members of Teamsters 375 felt that the company insisted upon dictating the terms of future negotiations and the company has thus far refused to negotiate a full contract until a lawsuit under Buffalo's Living Wage Ordinance is settled.
The most disturbing element to these negotiations is the Company's refusal to discuss a full contract based on the outstanding lawsuit, particularly because the lawsuit was brought against the company by EMT's, not the Union. The Buffalo Living Wage Ordinance clearly states that anyone who contracts with the city (contracts-exchange of money for services) is required to pay their employees the living wage. Rural Metro has insisted that they are in fact not covered by the law and continue to pay their employees minimum wage.
The service that the EMT's, the Intermediates, and the Paramedics is crucial. First responders are responsible for saving lives. It appears that company believes more in profit (of which they are making plenty off of the backs of these workers) than in the safety and well being of their employees.
Rural Metro and the Teamsters hope to return to the bargaining table early next week.
Surprisingly, Board Member Ralph Hernandez offered to take Betty up on her offer. Sort of. He asked to ride along with her on one her daily routes and get a sense of the challenges she and the other bus aides face, ranging from low wages to violence on the bus.
We commend Ralph for taking this first step towards gaining perspective regarding the critical and difficult service the bus aides provide.
On another note, EMT's, Intermediates and Paramedics at Rural Metro Medical Services voted down a recent contract proposal. Their contract with Rural Metro expired on June 30th. The proposed contract was actually a 1 year extension of the prior 5 years contract. The members of Teamsters 375 felt that the company insisted upon dictating the terms of future negotiations and the company has thus far refused to negotiate a full contract until a lawsuit under Buffalo's Living Wage Ordinance is settled.
The most disturbing element to these negotiations is the Company's refusal to discuss a full contract based on the outstanding lawsuit, particularly because the lawsuit was brought against the company by EMT's, not the Union. The Buffalo Living Wage Ordinance clearly states that anyone who contracts with the city (contracts-exchange of money for services) is required to pay their employees the living wage. Rural Metro has insisted that they are in fact not covered by the law and continue to pay their employees minimum wage.
The service that the EMT's, the Intermediates, and the Paramedics is crucial. First responders are responsible for saving lives. It appears that company believes more in profit (of which they are making plenty off of the backs of these workers) than in the safety and well being of their employees.
Rural Metro and the Teamsters hope to return to the bargaining table early next week.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Take Action! Last Board of Education Meeting July 8th-Be there!
Buffalo School District Cannot Afford Not to Pay Employees a Living Wage
Living Wage supporters ask the Board of Education to Seize the Opportunity to Pass a Living Wage Policy
Living Wage legislation has been an integral part the anti-poverty movement since the 1990’s, starting in Baltimore, Maryland in 1994. The cornerstone to the Living Wage Movement throughout the country is the recognition that through investing in low wage workers, we are in turn investing in the stability of our own communities. The city of Buffalo adopted a Living Wage Law in 1999, covering all city and contracted employees. In a short time, the living wage allowed individuals to purchase their own vehicles, keep up with inflation and returned dignity to their work. We commend the city for doing the right thing. And now we ask the Board of Education and the Superintendent to also do the right thing.
On Tuesday, July 8th, parents, students, Buffalo School District Employees and Living Wage supporters will gather on the steps of City Hall to continue to put pressure on members of the Board of Education to pass a Living Wage Policy. Food Service Workers, Transportation Aides of Buffalo, and the Coalition for Economic Justice have been working diligently to pass a Living Wage Policy that would lift over a thousand workers out of poverty. Currently these workers receive no benefits and make as little as $7.52. These numbers make for approximately $15,600 year, a figure that is clearly too little to survive on.
The broad coalition of living wage supporters has requested that the finance committee bring the Living Wage policy to the floor for a full vote from members of the Board of Education. As preparation for the upcoming school year begins, we ask that the Board of Education act on behalf of the communities they represent, which includes these one thousand (1,000) plus workers and pass this critical piece of legislation.
What: Press Conference to encourage the Board of Education to pass Living Wage Policy
Where: Steps of City Hall
When: Tuesday July 8th, 2008 at 5pm
Who: Coalition for Economic Justice, Transportation Aides of Buffalo, VOICE Buffalo,
PUSH Buffalo, Seasonal Sanitation Workers, Parents, Students, and Food Service
Workers.
Living Wage supporters ask the Board of Education to Seize the Opportunity to Pass a Living Wage Policy
Living Wage legislation has been an integral part the anti-poverty movement since the 1990’s, starting in Baltimore, Maryland in 1994. The cornerstone to the Living Wage Movement throughout the country is the recognition that through investing in low wage workers, we are in turn investing in the stability of our own communities. The city of Buffalo adopted a Living Wage Law in 1999, covering all city and contracted employees. In a short time, the living wage allowed individuals to purchase their own vehicles, keep up with inflation and returned dignity to their work. We commend the city for doing the right thing. And now we ask the Board of Education and the Superintendent to also do the right thing.
On Tuesday, July 8th, parents, students, Buffalo School District Employees and Living Wage supporters will gather on the steps of City Hall to continue to put pressure on members of the Board of Education to pass a Living Wage Policy. Food Service Workers, Transportation Aides of Buffalo, and the Coalition for Economic Justice have been working diligently to pass a Living Wage Policy that would lift over a thousand workers out of poverty. Currently these workers receive no benefits and make as little as $7.52. These numbers make for approximately $15,600 year, a figure that is clearly too little to survive on.
The broad coalition of living wage supporters has requested that the finance committee bring the Living Wage policy to the floor for a full vote from members of the Board of Education. As preparation for the upcoming school year begins, we ask that the Board of Education act on behalf of the communities they represent, which includes these one thousand (1,000) plus workers and pass this critical piece of legislation.
What: Press Conference to encourage the Board of Education to pass Living Wage Policy
Where: Steps of City Hall
When: Tuesday July 8th, 2008 at 5pm
Who: Coalition for Economic Justice, Transportation Aides of Buffalo, VOICE Buffalo,
PUSH Buffalo, Seasonal Sanitation Workers, Parents, Students, and Food Service
Workers.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
IDA Reform-Another Voice Editorial from Buffalo News
Reform will hold IDAs accountable and help Buffalo
By Lou Jean Fleron Updated: 06/25/08 6:49 AM
In the first hot sun of June, citizens rallied in front of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency on Oak Street behind a banner that read “Living Wages for a Livable City.” Passing traffic in old and new cars, delivery vans and 18-wheelers honked their votes for decent jobs and living wages.
Those votes need to be translated into the passage of Assemblyman Sam Hoyt’s IDA reform legislation that will establish job standards, accountability measures, transparency procedures and environmental standards in exchange for public subsidies to private businesses.
Across New York, local IDAs deal with our money, handing out more than $400 million per year in tax breaks, too often providing subsidies that fail to promote real economic development and do not deliver the jobs they promise.
Quality job standards are good for workers, for communities, and also for business. The top 10 “pro-business states” — Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alabama, Georgia and Nebraska — all have enacted wage standards on development subsidies.
Prevailing wage requirements also benefit taxpayers and working families. A recent study of Federal Highway Administration data found that costs per mile of highway are lower among those states which pay higher hourly wages. Because of higher productivity, the high-wage states averaged over $30,000 per mile savings to taxpayers.
Here in the Queen City, the second poorest city in America, nearly 29 percent of us live in poverty. Good jobs with health care, benefits and pensions continue to disappear. Auto workers are forced to take “buy downs” to gradually lower their standard of living to satisfy the insatiable greed of global capital markets.
Poverty, joblessness and inequality are the reasons we have economic development policies. We cannot afford to continue to perpetuate these conditions by continuing to subsidize failure. Upstate New Yorkers need good jobs, not just any jobs, as a return on our investment in business development.
In this celebrated and proud blue-collar town, people spontaneously support wages that allow families to live self-sufficiently, educate their children, buy their homes and contribute to their communities. When we give up tax revenues needed for schools, roads, parks, libraries, public safety and public health, we expect to receive in exchange living wage jobs.
The drive-by living wage supporters on Oak Street honked in solidarity because in Buffalo we stand, as Tim Russert said, “side by side, shoulder by shoulder.” Our history and our experiences teach us that a strong local economy will be built only on good jobs that attract and retain a skilled work force. That is the primary purpose of IDAs. It is time we held them accountable.
Lou Jean Fleron is director of workforce, industry and economic development at the Cornell University Industrial and Labor Relations School in Buffalo.
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