Press Release
December 16, 2014
Contact:
Stacey Hendler Ross – 408-966-4098
Or
Khanh Weinberg – 408.921.0098
Santa Clara County Supervisors to Vote on Living Wage Ordinance
SAN JOSE, Calif. – After months of research and public discussions, Santa Clara County Supervisors are poised to officially pass the most comprehensive Living Wage ordinance in the nation. A week ago, Supervisors approved the progressive details of the newly proposed law, which include: requiring county contractors to pay employees a living wage, with health and retirement credits, paid sick leave, a voice on the job without fear of retaliation, and groundbreaking fair workweek provisions including full time work and flexible hours.
In the Valley of Plenty, despite the booming tech economy, one in three residents does not earn enough to get by. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, led by Supervisors Ken Yeager and Dave Cortese, have created an ordinance that will change the standard of living for thousands of people.
A report titled “Setting Job Standards for a New Economy: An Innovative Living Wage for Silicon Valley,” lays out elements for what would be the most comprehensive local legislation covering entities that do business with a county. The report was written by public policy think tank Working Partnerships USA.
WHAT: Santa Clara County Supervisors vote on Living Wage ordinance
WHEN: 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16
WHERE: 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose
With the tech industry booming and the economy rapidly recovering, the average low-wage worker in Santa Clara County is falling further behind. Many who make minimum wage, or just above, struggle to make ends meet in Silicon Valley where the cost of living continues to soar. A living wage, by comparison, is a standard, not a floor, for what workers must earn to be self-sufficient.
The report addresses the underlying causes and presents a pathway to building a better local economy and strengthening communities throughout the Valley.
The Living Wage ordinance expected to pass on Tuesday will go into effect in July 2015.
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The Service Employees International Union is an organization of 2.1 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide. SEIU is dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society. For more information, visit www.seiu521.org.
