Living Wage X-Files
While sipping my coffee this morning, I took some notes on the living wage editorial in the News-Depress this morning....I have some concerns about the living wage too -- but let's take a look at some of their assertions:
The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages and usually refers to the time before the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration? The City of Santa Barbara has a $70 million reserve with income rising at about 3% a year.
Council Member Roger Horton was a Vice-Chancellor at UC Santa Barbara -- doesn't that count?
I'm putting a "X" on my window -- remember in the X-Files? -- as there is clearly a conspiracy afoot...the truth is I'm not sure they have the votes!
I'm not sure I'm interested in living wage administrators either -- I'll give the News-Press that. At the same time, the ordinance is far from complete and I really doubt it will look exactly the way the activists envision it. Then there is the question as to whether it would actually pass....more later.
Watching the city of Santa Barbara over the last months work to create a "living wage" ordinance has given residents and business owners a front-row seat for the creation of an expensive and Byzantine bureaucracy.
The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages and usually refers to the time before the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration? The City of Santa Barbara has a $70 million reserve with income rising at about 3% a year.
From the mayor down, the City Council lacks members who have significant experience owning or running a bigger business where they had to manage a large number of employees. This is a weakness that's all too apparent as the council struggles through writing a living wage law.
Council Member Roger Horton was a Vice-Chancellor at UC Santa Barbara -- doesn't that count?
The council is pushing ahead with such a law because many of its members fear the political repercussions if they don't bend to their union patrons and other activists.
I'm putting a "X" on my window -- remember in the X-Files? -- as there is clearly a conspiracy afoot...the truth is I'm not sure they have the votes!
The ordinance committee is discussing establishing an oversight board or hiring an "ordinance administrator" to decide case by case, based on examining a company's hourly pay, health benefits, vacation policies and child-care services.
I'm not sure I'm interested in living wage administrators either -- I'll give the News-Press that. At the same time, the ordinance is far from complete and I really doubt it will look exactly the way the activists envision it. Then there is the question as to whether it would actually pass....more later.
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 8/16/2005 10:17:00 AM
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5 Comments:
The City simply should get out of the health-benefits auditing business and just decide on a single "living" wage amount and separate the insurance issue, as what is adequate insurance and adequate additional increase in hourly wages never will never be decided to account for all details.
regarding:"
Then there is the question as to whether it would actually pass...."
It all depends upon what the wage amount is subject to a vote. The lower the rate, the more votes will be in favor; so the game for the Puebloites is how high can the rate be, either before or after the election, to garner 4/7 Council votes in support. The muddiness of the health insurance auditing will scare away some of those votes.
Just a suggestion- do some more research on what SB For a Living Wage is actually proposing before accepting Travis Armstrong's account. In no part of our proposal, either the original draft ordinance or what we have argued for in the Ordinance Committee has the coalition proposed a "Living Wage Administrator". Nor, to my knowlege, has the City. We do propose an advisory board- an unpaid volluntary body which would oversee the effects and implementation of the ordinance, just as the city does with many ordinances.
Secondly, the graduated wage levels for providing health care were arrived at largely in consultation with council members who were eager to see some credit given for local contractors who do provide substantial benefits packages. I don't want to speak for any council members, but it is hasty and ill-researched to suggest that the differential, which has been lauded by many on the council, will be a hinderance rather than a plus.
The City Attorney does not think that assessing benefits packages is difficult- why should the News Press, or Blogabarbara for that matter?
Lastly, please stop perpetuating the misconception that SB for a Living Wage is synomymous with PUEBLO. Of 12-14 active board members, three are affiliated to PUEBLO (including myself). And two of those three are also board members or staff of other coalition members. This is a rhetorical tactic used by opponents of the LW, including the News Press, in order to imply a lack of buy-in by the huge swath of local organizations who have joined the coalition. Stop helping them out, please.
-daraka larimore-hall
speaking for himself, and not SB4LW
Thanks for the info Daraka -- this is what the comment area is for!
Regarding remarks by daraka larimore-hall:
"Secondly, the graduated wage levels for providing health care were arrived at largely in consultation with council members who were eager to see some credit given for local contractors who do provide substantial benefits packages."
So just what IS a "substantial benefits package" and "coverage"?? And who would verify what is substantial and what is it worth in wage differential rate?
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