Legislation that would raise the salaries of workers whose employers do business with county government is currently being reviewed by the Westchester County legislation committee. Local advocates, led by the Westchester Living Wage Coalition, expect the measure to come up for a vote in September.
Despite strong opposition from many of the same people who oppose an increased minimum wage, 87 living wage ordinances throughout the US have already been passed, and about 75 more are being considered across the country.
The real and potential impact of living wage ordinances on workers, businesses, and communities is being examined by researchers, who are reporting favorable results. A study of Baltimore’s living wage, for instance, found that companies did not reduce staffing as a result of the law, and reported higher worker morale and productivity. Contractors observed the leveling of the playing field and diminished pressure on them to squeeze labor costs in order to win low-bid contracts.
Moreover, living wage laws have imposed little, if any, cost to the cities that have passed them. In 2001 a review of cities ranked “best for business” by Fortune, Entrepreneur and Inc. magazines described almost half the cities listed as having a living wage on the books.
The result? Many families
have been lifted out of poverty.
This is an idea whose time has come. Westchester NOW urges our county legislators to take the steps necessary to ensure that companies doing county business pay a living wage.
Information for this article was provided in part by Raise the Floor – Wages and policies that work for all of us, by Holly Sklar, Laryssa Mykyta, and Susan Wefald, 2001. Published by the Ms. Foundation for Women.
