This is a bad decision. Imagine those holding up STOP signs for road repair. Those clerks who are rude and incompetent (whose numbers are legion and growing).

Posted on Wed, Oct. 09, 2002 story:PUB_DESC

BY BRAD BENNETT bbennett@herald.com

Seeking to ensure that all Broward County employees earn enough to avoid poverty, the County Commission on Tuesday agreed to pay its workers a ``living wage.''

The new minimum pay of $9.57 per hour will affect nearly 400 county employees starting in October 2003. It also will apply to employees of service-oriented companies that do more than $100,000 annually in business with the county.

Currently, some county employees make only about $7 an hour, more than minimum wage but below the federal poverty line.

''I think that today Broward County decided that we are not going to lead the race to the bottom, that instead we are going to reach to the top,'' said Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, who sponsored the wage proposal.

``When we look at the impact that this is going to have on the local economy, it puts dollars from those wage earners into the economy. They will not require handouts in order to meet the obligation of raising their families.''

Modeled after a similar law in Miami-Dade County, Broward's living-wage law passed after an hour-long rally in front of the county government building that drew more than 40 supporters. Later, dozens -- including union representatives, workers and Fort Lauderdale NAACP President Bill McCormick -- crowded the commission chambers to support the plan at a public hearing.

ACTIVIST PLEASED

''I think it's one more sign of how the county works for all citizens, rich or poor,'' said Barry Sacharow, 47, of Hollywood, a community activist who clapped loudly after the commission vote.

Sacharow had earlier joined the rally, which drew homeless activists Arnold Abbott and Sean Cononie, chanting, ``Get the poor on the page! Vote yes for living wage!''

Some detractors said the law will cost thousands of jobs for workers as companies fire the least-paid employees to comply with the ordinance.

''Make no mistake about it. You will lose jobs in Broward County,'' said Peter M. Dyga, director of government affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors' Florida East Coast chapter. He was among a handful who spoke against the plan Tuesday.

But Bruce Nissen, director of research for Florida International University's Center for Labor Research and Studies, disputed that notion, arguing that the contractors' association was simply trying to confuse the issue of helping the working poor.

''Nobody's going to be losing their jobs,'' Nissen said.

The ordinance covers employees who work at least 20 hours a week and are eligible for benefits, at an annual cost to the county of about $1.3 million.

It will also impact employees of contractors doing more than $100,000 of work a year for the county. The contractors' portion of the ordinance applies only to those employees who do work for the county and will phase in the higher wage as contracts expire.

Not all commissioners were enthusiastic about the proposal, especially its effect on businesses.

''I think we're jumping the gun,'' said Commissioner John Rodstrom, the only one who voted against the living wage.

Rodstrom joined commissioners Suzanne Gunzburger, Ilene Lieberman and Jim Scott in backing a move to exclude contractors.

But Jacobs and commissioners Ben Graber, Diana Wasserman-Rubin, Lori Parrish and Josephus Eggelletion outnumbered them, 5-4, to pass the measure.

''People ought to be able to make a decent wage,'' said Parrish, the commission chairwoman.

Rodstrom did, however, persuade fellow commissioners to amend the ordinance so that it excludes employees and contract workers who make tips, such as water-taxi drivers.

''I think there are people who are compensated quite well,'' Rodstrom said.

The living-wage campaign first caught on in Baltimore in 1994 and has since spread to 92 other cities and counties -- including Miami-Dade County, which passed its law in May 1999, and Miami Beach, where the law was approved in April 2001.

FAMILY OF FOUR

Living-wage laws require employers to pay workers enough to keep a family of four at or above the poverty line, set by the government at $18,100 a year, or $8.70 an hour.

The current federal minimum wage is far below that -- $5.15, or $10,712 a year.

In Broward, some commissioners argued that as lower-paid workers begin earning more, those who already earn a living wage will want their salaries raised too -- a salary ''compression'' issue that will cost the county more.

''Where do you stop with that?'' Scott asked.

''The compression issue kind of concerns me,'' Lieberman said.

Jacobs provided figures showing that employees making less than $12.57 an hour would get pay increases ranging from 20 cents to $1.48 an hour too, which would cost the county about $934,000.

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2002

Answers

Miami isn't in Broward, Ft Lauderdale is.

The minimum wage issue will always be around because the cost of living keeps going up.

hard to believe that not too long ago I was making that 5.15 hr. Believe me, you cannot live on that comfortably.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2002

Oh? They moved Miami? Teehee.

I hate to tell ya what I was making at the Italian restaurant in New Jersey or the sweatshop not far away. Can't remember but I think it was around 1.20/hour. Do NOT buy Jonathan Logan clothes. I know I was supporting two of us on 450/month in New Orleans, working in the War on Poverty, lol! Then, in 1981, when I finally got a raise of 100/month to 1200/month, I was told not to tell anybody cos no secretary had ever got such a large raise! Yep, I was working extra jobs, course I was, and we managed. But underpaying a legal secretary with certain skills is a bit different to overpaying a high school senior, flipping hamburgers at his first job--which is what this law provides for.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2002

only county workers, and workers employed by companies that do more than $100,000 annually in business with the county.

that's with the county, not in the county.

I haven't heard if McDonald's or Wendy's have a contract with the county.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2002

Sorry, operating with a migraine here and not being very clear. In other cities where such laws have been passed, private businesses have either been legislated to follow suit or have had to in order to stay competitive. To keep it within the strict confines of the reported facts, just swap the teenager example for the county employee who holds the stop sign at road construction sites.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2002

I agree they will probably expand it to include the other less fortunates, most likely within a year so it will go into effect for all at the same time.

then again, only Burger King has its headquarters here, so the others will not be as affected.

We'll know when it costs 3 bucks for a hamburger without fries or soda. Or is it already? See, I don't even know anymore.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2002