|
The living wage campaign in Lawrence began on September 5th, 2000, when the Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance was
formed. The KVLWA reached its essential goal on October 28th, 2003, with the final passage of a city tax
abatement ordinance that includes a living wage measure as one of its central planks. Nationally, this is the
114th living wage law-- the first such measure in Kansas.
Passing this ordinance required a sustained,
determined effort by many people. Beginning in June, 2001, the KVLWA began a petition drive which led, ultimately,
to the collection of 6,000 signatures (in a community of 80,000) and organizational signatures by 35 community groups,
including the League of Women Voters, the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods, and a wide spectrum of women's
groups, churches, unions, and other local organizations. In April, 2003, a progressive, proliving wage slate won a
majority of the five seats on the City Commission. The ultimate City Commission vote in favor of the living wage
ordinance was a unanimous 5-0.
Passing this ordinance required a sustained, determined effort by many people.
Beginning in June, 2001, the KVLWA began a petition drive which led, ultimately, to the collection of 6,000 signatures
(in a community of 80,000) and organizational signatures by 35 community groups, including the League of Women
Voters, the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods, and a wide spectrum of women's groups, churches, unions, and
other local organizations. In April, 2003, a progressive, proliving wage slate won a majority of the five seats on
the City Commission. The ultimate City Commission vote in favor of the living wage ordinance was a unanimous 5-0.
The new ordinance requires firms that receive City tax abatements or equivalent economic development subsidies
to pay their employees a living wage, which the City defines as a wage high enough to keep a family of three at least
30 percent above the federal poverty line, plus health benefits. (In Douglas County the typical low-wage family is a
single mother and two children.) In 2003, that amounts to a wage of $9.53 an hour plus benefits, not only for regular
employees (part-time as well as full-time) and also for temporary workers who labor for the company at least 100
hours per year. The living wage will be indexed annually, so that, as the federal poverty level rises, the living wage
rate will rise as well. Businesses that receive tax abatements to relocate to Lawrence are obligated to pay all their
employees a living wage or better. Local firms that receive abatements to expand locally are obliged to pay a living
wage or better to all employees who work on tax abated projects. Benefits consist of either (1) a health plan,
with a minimum employer contribution of 70 percent, or (2) a wage supplement of $1.50 per hour, which the abated
employer can choose to offer in lieu of a health plan. Abated firms that fail to comply with the living wage rule will
be penalized two dollars for every dollar they save by paying less than a living wage. Of those two penalty dollars,
one will go to the underpaid worker in the form of back pay.
|
