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The growing number of living wage campaigns has led to an increase in quantitative research and impact analyses.
Living
Wage Ordinances Around the Nation
Sample Living Wage Resolution
Technical Assistance
Publications and Reports
Sample Living Wage Ordinances
| Place | Passed | Coverage | Main provisions (All dollar amounts are per hour and have since been indexed to inflation). |
| Alexandria, VA | June 2000 | City contracts over $30,000 | $8.20 with benefits, or $9.83 without |
| Ann Arbor, MI | March 2001 | Service contracts or financial assistance over $10,000 | $8.70 with benefits, or $10.20 without |
| Baltimore, MD | December 1994 | Service contracts over $5,000 | $6.10 in fiscal year 1996, $6.60 in fiscal year 1997, $7.10 in fiscal year 1998, and $7.70 in fiscal year 1999, subject to Board of Estimates approval |
| Berkeley, CA | October 2000 | City employees, businesses with city contracts, financial assistance recipients, and businesses that lease land from the city | $9.75 with benefits, or $11.37 without |
| Boston, MA | 1997, amended September 1998 | Service contracts of at least $100,000 or subcontracts of at least $25,000 | $8.23, indexed annually on July 1 to whichever is higher of the adjusted poverty guidelines or 110% of the state minimum wage |
| Buffalo, NY | August 1999 | Service contracts and subcontracts over $50,000 and firms with at least 10 employees | $6.22 in 2000, $7.15 in 2001, and $8.08 in 2002, with health benefits; or $7.22, $8.15, and $9.08 without benefits |
| Cambridge, MA | May 1999 | City employees, service contracts, subcontracts, and subsidies of more than $10,000. | $10 indexed annually with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
| Chicago, IL | July 1998 | Contracts or subcontractors covering home and health care workers, security guards, parking attendants, day laborers, cashiers, elevator operators, custodial workers, and clerical workers | At least $7.60 |
| Cleveland, OH | June 2000 | Contracts or subsidies totaling over $75,000 | $8.20 starting January 2001, updated to $9.20 by October 2002. Minimum of 40% of new hires must be residents of Cleveland |
| Cook County, IL | September 1998 | Service contracts and subcontracts | $7.60 |
| Corvallis, OR | November 1999 | Service contracts over $5,000 | Wage and benefit package must equal at least $9.00 per hour, adjusted annually with CPI |
| Dane County, WI | March 1999 | County employees and service contracts | 110 percent of poverty level for a family of three |
| Dayton, OH | 1998 | City employees | $7.00 with health benefits, or $8.50 without |
| Denver, CO | February 2000 | Service contracts or subcontracts over $2,000, for covered categories: parking lot attendants, security guards, clerical support workers, and child care workers on city owned or leased property | Poverty level for a family of four |
| Des Moines, IA | 1988, amended 1996 | Subsidy recipients | $7.00 minimum, with a goal of $9.00 |
| Detroit, MI | November 1998 | Service contracts, subcontracts, and subsidies over $50,000 per year | Indexed to poverty rate for a family of 4 with health benefits, or 125% of poverty level without benefits |
| Duluth, MN | July 1997 | Subsidies over $25,000 | 90% of employees must be paid $6.50 with health benefits, or $7.25 without, indexed to inflation |
| Durham, NC | January 1998 | City employees and service contracts | $7.55 |
| East Point, MI | March 2001 | Companies with service contracts or tax incentives of at least $5,000 | 100% of the poverty level for a family of four if health benefits are provided, or 125% if they are not. |
| Eau Claire County, WI | September 2000 | County contracts over $100,000 | $6.67 with health benefits, or $7.40 without |
| Ferndale, MI | February 2001 | Service contracts over $25,000 | $8.50 with health benefits, or $9.75 without |
| Gary, IN | 1991 | Tax abatement recipients | Prevailing wage |
| Hartford, CT | September 1999 | Service contracts over $50,000 and subsidies over $100,000 | $8.81 |
| Hayward, CA | 1999 | City employees and service contracts over $25,000 | $8 with health benefits, or $9.25 without, adjusted yearly with regional cost of living |
| Hudson County, NJ | January 1999 | Service contracts | 150% of the federal minimum wage |
| James City County, VA | 2001 | County workers | $8.25 |
| Jersey City, NJ | June 1996 | Selected service contracts | $7.50 |
| Kankakee County, IL | September 1999 | Firms getting local Enterprise Zone tax breaks | $11.42 or 130% of the federal poverty level |
| Los Angeles City, CA | March 1997 | Service contracts and subcontracts over $25,000, concessionaires, and subsidies over $100,000 per year | $7.25 with health benefits, or $8.50 without |
| Los Angeles County, CA | June 1999 | County employees and service contracts | $8.32 with health benefits, or $9.46 without |
| Madison, WI | March 1999 | Subsidies over $100,000, and service contracts over $5,000 | 100% of poverty level for a family of in 1999, 105% in 2000, and 110% in 2001 |
| Maryland State | 1996 | Contract for cleaning state-owned World Trade Center | $6.60 in 1996, $7.10 in 1997, or $7.70 in 1998 |
| Miami Beach, FL | April 2001 | City and some service contractors with contracts over $100,000 | $8.56 with health benefits, or $9.81 without |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 1999 | County employees, contractors, subcontractors, and airport employees | $8.56 with health benefits, or $9.81 without |
| Milwaukee City, WI | November 1995 | Service contracts and subcontracts over $5,000 | Poverty level for family of three |
| Milwaukee County, WI | May 1997 | Select service contracts | $6.26, indexed to prevailing wage |
| Milwaukee School Board, WI | January 1996 | Public School System employees, and service contracts | $7.70 |
| Minneapolis, MN | March 1997 | Subsidies over $100,000 per year | 100% of poverty level for a family of four with health benefits, or 110% without |
| Missoula, MT | March 2001 | Economic development assistance | $7.95, and health benefits |
| Montgomery County, Maryland | June, 2002 | For-profit contractors with at least 10 employees and $50,000 in county contracts | $10.50 (contractors who offer health insurance will receive credits against this wage level) |
| Multnomah County, OR | October 1998 | Janitorial, security and foodservice contracts | $7.50 in 1998, $8.00 in 1999. |
| New Haven, CT | April 1997 | Service contracts | Poverty level for a family of four, revised every five years |
| New York, NY | September 1996 | Security, temporary office, cleaning and food service contracts | Prevailing wage |
| Oakland, CA (city) | March 1998 | Service contracts over $25,000, and subsidies over $100,000 | $8.00 with benefits, or $9.25 without (indexed annually) |
| Omaha, NE | April 2000 | Service contracts over $75,000; firms with receiving more than $75,000 in financial assistance. Exempts non-profits and firms with fewer than 10 employees | $8.19 with benefits, or $9.01 without, adjusted annually with federal poverty guidelines |
| Oyster Bay, NY | August 2001 | Service contractors and subcontractors performing at least $50,000 worth of janitorial or security services | $9.00 with health benefits, or $10.25 without |
| Pasadena, CA | September
1998 |
Service contracts over $25,000 | $7.25 with health benefits, or $8.50 without |
| Pittsburgh, PA | May 2001 | Covers city employers, contractors, recipients of subsidies, businesses and contractors receiving tax breaks | $9.12 with health benefits, or $10.62 without |
| Portland, OR | 1996, amended 1998 | Janitorial, security, parking and temporary clerical service contracts | $7.50 in 1998, and $8 in 1999. |
| Rochester, NY | January 2001 | Service contracts over $50,000 | $8.52 with benefits, or $9.52 without |
| San Antonio, TX | July 1998 | Tax abatement recipients | $9.27 to 70% of service employees in new jobs, and $10.13 to 70% of durable goods employees |
| San Fernando, CA | April 2000 | Service contractors (including employees of temporary agencies), city employees | $7.25 with benefits, or $8.50 without |
| San Francisco, CA | August 2000 | City service contractors, and leaseholders at San Francisco International Airport, In Home Support Service Public Authority (homecare workers) | $10 an hour followed by 2.5 percent raises for three more years. Days off |
| San Jose, CA | November 1997 | Service contracts over $20,000, and some city employees | $9.50 with benefits, or $10.75 without |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1995 | Subsidy recipients | $10 with health benefits |
| Santa Cruz, CA | October 2000 | City employees and employees of non-profit and for-profit city service contractors | $11.00 with benefits, or $12.00 without |
| Santa Monica, CA | May 2001 | Businesses and tenants with more than 50 employees and grossing $5 million or more in Santa Monica's Coastal Zone (beachfront and downtown area) | $10.50 an hour with benefits, or $12.25 without |
| Somerville, MA | May 1999 | City employees, service contracts and subcontracts | $8.35 |
| St. Louis, MO | August 2000 | City service contracts over $50,000;business subsidies over $100,000 | $8.84 benefits, or $10.23 without |
| St. Paul, MN | January 1997 | Subsidies over $100,000 per year | 100% of poverty level for family of four plus benefits, or 110% benefits |
| Suffolk County, NY | July 2001 | County service contracts over $10,000 and subsidies. Includes home healthcare workers, Head Start workers, and daycare workers | $9.00 with benefits, or $10.25 without |
| Toledo, OH | June 2000 | Service contracts over $10,000 (for firms with more the 25 employees) and subsidies more than $100,000 (for firms with more than 50 employees). Covers tenants in developments receiving subsidies | $8.58 with health benefits (indexed at 110% of the federal poverty level for a family of four), or $10.14 without health coverage (130% of the poverty level) |
| Tucson, AZ | September
1999 |
Service contracts | $8.00 with health benefits, or $9.00 without |
| Ventura County, CA | May 2001 | County contractors and subcontractors | $8.00 an hour with health benefits, or $10.00 without |
| Warren, MI | January 2000 | Service contractors, firms receiving financial assistance over $50,000 | Poverty level for family of four with benefits, or 125% of poverty level without benefits |
| West Hollywood, CA | October 1997 | Service contracts over $25,000 | $7.25 with health benefits, or $8.50 without |
| Ypsilanti City, MI | June 1999 | Service contracts or financial assistance over $20,000 in a year | $8.50 with health benefits, or $10 without |
| Ypsilanti Township, MI | June 1999 | Contracts over $10,000 | $8.50 with benefits, or $10 without |
Source: Sources for this table include Economic Policy Institute and ACORN.
Organizations are encouraged to pass endorsements of the campaign using this resolution . From South Central Federation of Labor in Madison, Wisconsin. (www.solidarity.com)
*******
Whereas, a day's work deserves a fair day's pay -- no one working full-time to support a family should have to live in poverty; and
Whereas, government and taxpayer dollars should encourage the creation of family-supporting jobs that provide health care benefits; and
Whereas, the costs of food, housing, child care and transportation make it increasingly difficult for low-wage workers to make ends meet; and
Whereas, more workers are finding their wages falling below the poverty level even with Dane County's record low unemployment rate; and
Whereas, Living Wage campaigns are winning legislation around the country to lift above the poverty level the pay for employees of firms receiving local tax dollars; and
Whereas, a Living Wage will assure social and economic benefits for the community as a whole and a supportive environment for employers who try to maintain fair wages; and
Whereas, a Living Wage will decrease the need for public assistance programs by increasing family-supporting jobs; and
Whereas, a Living Wage will increase sales tax revenues by increasing consumer spending and will help stabilize the local economy; and
Whereas, a Living Wage will discourage government privatization and contracting out that feeds the growth of part-time, poverty wage work; and
Whereas, a Living Wage will
prevent "low-ball" contracting that results in low-quality service;
and
Whereas, a Living Wage will result in lower turnover rates that will reduce the costs of recruitment, hiring and training and increase the quality and continuity of job performance; and
Whereas , a Living Wage will provide public vendors and businesses receiving economic development assistance with conscientious workers seeking jobs at adequate wages; and
Whereas, a Living Wage will increase incentives among low-wage workers to work and gain the experience and skills demanded in the job market;
Therefore, be it resolved that __________________________ supports the goal of raising base pay for employees of firms which contract for services with or receive economic assistance from local government to 110% of the federal poverty level for a family of four and to provide health care benefits.
1.
ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now)
Comprehensive information and technical assistance on living wage provisions.
Their site provides an on-line guide to adopting living-wage provisions,
as well as background information, links and resources. ACORN also
offers ongoing consultation.
739 8th St., SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202-547-2500
www.acorn.org
ACORN's Living Wage Resource Center can be found at
http://www.livingwagecampaign.org/
2.
Economic Policy Institute (EPI)
EPI publishes reports of living wage and minimum wage impacts.
1660 L Street NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
202-775-8810
202-775-0819 fax
www.epinet.org
3.
Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)
548 S. Spring St. #630
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-486-9880
www.laane.org
4.
Center for Community Change (CCC)
1000 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-0567
www.communitychange.org
5.
United for a Fair Economy
Offers a guide to campus living wage
37 Temple Place, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02111.
617-423-2148
www.ufenet.org
6.
Working Partnerships USA
2102 Almaden Road, Suite 107
San Jose, California 95125
408-269-7872
www.wpusa.org
7.
Center for the Child Care Workforce (CCW)
733 15th Street, NW Suite 1037
Washington, DC 20005-2112
800-U-R-Worthy
202-737-7700
ccw@ccw.org
8. Welfare Information Network (WIN)
Provides links to living wage publications,
resources, contacts, and case studies.
1401 New York Avenue, NW - Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
202-587-1000
http://www.welfareinfo.org/livingwageprogramsresource.htm
ACORN. Living Wage Campaigns: An Activist's Guide to Building the Movement for Economic Justice A Comprehensive guide to organizing a living wage campaign. April 2001.
AFL-CIO Department of Public Policy. Living Wage Laws: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions. October 2000.
Jared Bernstein. The Living Wage Movement: Pointing the Way Toward the High Road. Originally appeared in Community Action Digest, Spring 1999, Vol. 1, Issue 1.
Jared Bernstein. Higher Wages Lead to More Efficient Service Provision -- The Impact of Living Wage Ordinances on the Public Contracting Process. EPI report. August 2000.
Robert Pollin and Stephanie Luce.
The
Living Wage: Building a Fair Economy.
The New Press, 1998.
Nicholas Reville and Marti Garza. Campus Living Wage Manual, by United for a Fair Economy. 1999. A practical guide to conducting a successful living wage campaign on college campuses.
Karen Kraut, Scott Klinger and Chuck Collins. Choosing the High Road: Businesses That Pay a Living Wage and Prosper. Report by Responsible Wealth, a project of United for a Fair Economy. March 2000.
Bobbi Murray. Living Wage Comes of Age: An Increasingly Sophisticated Movement Has Put Opponents on the Defensive. The Nation, June 23, 2001.
Carol Zabin and Isaac Martin. Living Wage Campaigns in the Economic Policy Arena: Four Case Studies from California. Center for Labor Research and Education, Institute of Industrial Relations, UC Berkeley, June 1999.
Working Hard, Earning Less. National Priorities Project and Jobs with Justice. State by state account of how far behind minimum jobs are.
New Rules. Web site with original living wage reports and resources.
Greg LeRoy, Fiona Hsu, and Sara Hinkley. The Policy Shift To Good Jobs: Cities, States and Counties Attaching Job Quality Standards to Development Subsidies. Good Jobs First May 2000.
William Quigley. Full-Time Workers Should Not Be Poor: The Living Wage Movement. 2001.
Minimum Wage Laws in the States. United States Department of Labor. Provides basic information on minimum wage laws in all fifty states.
Living Wages Around the Nation:
Chris Benner and Rachel Rosner. Living Wage: An Opportunity for San Jose. Working Partnerships- USA. Projection of costs and benefits of San Jose's living wage ordinance. 1998.
Harvard's Living Wage web site. http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~pslm/livingwage/index.html. Site includes links, pictures, and information.
City
of Santa Monica Living Wage Study
Projection of costs and benefits of a proposed ordinance (University of
Massachusetts)
Vermont Livable Wage Campaign Page. Includes information on state and federal initiatives.
The Impact of the Detroit Living Wage Ordinance. Joint research project conducted by Wayne State University's Urban Studies Center and Labor Studies Center. 1999.
Christopher Niedt, Greg Ruiters, Dana Wise, and Erica Shoenberger. The Effects of the Living Wage in Baltimore. EPI Working Paper 119, February 1999.
Intended vs. Unintended Consequences: Evaluating the New Orleans Living Wage Proposal, by the Political Economy Research Institute. January 2001.
Living Wages and the San Francisco Economy, by Dr. Michael Reich. University or California, Berkeley. 1999.
Living Wages at the Port of Oakland, by Carol Zabin, Michael Reich, and Peter Hall. University of California 1999.
There are many on-line examples of living wage ordinances that have passed.
The Los Angeles ordinance has been amended to include specific language and broader coverage. To view the Los Angeles city ordinance, click here (pdf format).
The ordinance of Corvalis, OR is a good example of an ordinance passed by voters, rather than legislative. To view the Corvalis ordinance, click here.
Santa Cruz, California, passed the living wage that offers the highest wages. Click here.
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