Title
Resolution amending Resolution Number 669 of 2015, titled, “Resolution establishing a Wage Review Committee to review the impact of increasing the wages of service workers and service employees in the City of Pittsburgh.”
Body
WHEREAS, in October 2015, City Council empaneled a Wage Review Committee to hear from service workers employed in local hospitals and engage healthcare and economic experts; and
WHEREAS, the Wage Review Committee, in its December 2015 report to City Council, identified higher wages as one of the key factors in positively impacting the lives of those workers and their families; and
WHEREAS, this report went on to say, “Those who do Pittsburgh’s cooking, cleaning and caring deserve economic security, good health and safe neighborhoods.”; and,
WHEREAS, one of the Committee’s primary recommendations was that hospital workers should earn a minimum industry wage of no less than $15/hour; and,
WHEREAS, subsequent to the Committee’s report and a nationwide fight for family-sustaining wages, both of Pittsburgh’s major healthcare systems have agreed to raise their minimum wage to $15/hour; and,
WHEREAS, employees in other sectors of the local economy need the same support; and,
WHEREAS, City Council wishes to engage in a larger process to continue to help workers; and,
WHEREAS, in order to effectively achieve this goal, Council will seek guidance and expertise from residents and stakeholders,
Be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh enacts as follows:
Section 1: Council hereby establishes a Wage Review Committee, consisting of, at a minimum, the following members:
1. The Member of Council who chairs Council’s Committee on [Human Resources] Finance and Law;
2. [An e] Expert(s) in the causes of poverty and the problems of the poor;
3. A Community development specialist.
4. Other stakeholders as necessary.
Section 2: The Wage Review Committee shall prepare a report to Council detailing its findings regarding the wages of service workers in specified industries.
Section 3: The Wage Review Committee shall hold public sessions to take testimony and gather information.
Section 4: The Wage Review Committee’s report shall be filed with the City Clerk.