SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS REV. RICKY V. BURGESS, DEBORAH L. GROSS, DARLENE M. HARRIS, BRUCE A. KRAUS, AND COREY O'CONNOR
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Resolution calling on the Director of Finance to create a recognition program an incentive policy using the Market Based Revenue Opportunity Program to encourage small, locally-based businesses to raise the minimum wage for their employees.
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WHEREAS, in 2009 Pennsylvania raised the state's minimum wage from $7.15 an hour to $7.25 to coincide with the federal minimum wage increase; and
WHEREAS, the State minimum wage has not been adjusted to coincide with inflation or to reflect the recent economic downturn, with today's federal minimum wage 22% below the peak minimum wage - in terms of purchasing power - reached in the late 1960s; and
WHEREAS, raising the wage to $10.10 could help minimum-wage workers in Pittsburgh to make positive economic gains and put workers on the path to earning a living wage, but is not invasive enough to negatively affect consumer trends or business; and
WHEREAS, research has shown that higher wages sharply reduce employee turnover which can reduce recruitment and training costs; and
WHEREAS, the Market Based Revenue Opportunity Program was created by the City of Pittsburgh to provide responsible and community-minded guidelines for allowing messaging opportunities on City-owned Assets; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh wishes to recognize those local businesses that raise their minimum wage employee's hourly rate to $10.10.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh calls on the Director of Finance to create a recognition program to encourage locally-based businesses to raise the minimum wage for their employees to $10.10 an hour. Should the legal minimum wage be raised to equal $10.10 or more an hour, the recognition program shall be offered to businesses that raise the minimum wage for their employees to at least 40% higher than the legal minimum wage. a policy that will allow the City of Pittsburgh to enter into agreements with small businesses to utilize promotion opportunities on certain City Assets at no cost in exchange for agreeing to increase the base rate of pay for employees to $10.10 an hour.
The recognition program policy shall: must meet or exceed the following:
A. The policy must be directed to Focus on Small Businesses
a. A Small Business shall herein be considered a business that employs a minimum of 15 employees and no more than 250 employees
b. Businesses that employ fewer than 15 employees may apply for special consideration for eligibility at the discretion of the Director of Finance
B. The policy must be directed to Focus on Locally-Based Businesses
a. Locally-Based Businesses shall have an address located within the City of Pittsburgh and shall be further defined by the Director of Finance
C. Set forth an application and audit process through which the Director of Finance will determine an employer's eligibility for recognition under the recognition program.
D. Eligibility in receiving the promotion opportunity on City Assets at no cost would require each small business to enter into agreements with the City of Pittsburgh to last 6 months
a. Eligible businesses that choose to participate in this program have the option to apply to renew their participation in this program after the completion of the aforementioned specified period of time
b. Approval of renewal applications shall be made at the discretion of the Director of Finance
E. The policy shall not supersede or change any collective bargaining agreements
their pay will need to be raised proportionally if the hourly wage of the tipped employees is raised to at least $3.93 an hour.
a. To be eligible for the policy, minimum wage for tipped employees must be raised to $3.93 per hour, so as to be in proportion to the increase in the minimum wage for non-tipped employees
are eligible, should they provide documentation attesting to an increase in employees' hourly pay above $10.10 an hour
H. The policy shall not interfere with existing commercial advertising on City assets
I. Director of Finance shall oversee the program to ensure that all agreements are upheld
J. Nonprofits shall not be eligible
120 days
The policy shall not:
A. Supersede or interfere with any collective bargaining agreement.
B. Interfere or conflict with the Market Based Revenue Opportunity Program or applicable law.
Section 2. Furthermore, be it also resolved that City Council shall review these regulations and vote to re-enact, amend, or supplement, or rescind this Resolution:
A. One year after its final passage by City Council; or
B. Upon the passage of an increase in the minimum wage by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania