San Antonio City Manager Now Supports $13 /hr Living Wage Urged by COPS/Metro
San Antonio, TX -- COPS / Metro leaders and allies are celebrating a huge step forward — the city manager and a majority of city council members are now agreeing to COPS / Metro’s proposal to raise wages for the lowest paid city workers to $13 / hour for fiscal year 2016. This exceeds the City's current living wage standard of $11.47 / hour.
“We are ecstatic— this is a huge step for public sector employees, not only in the state, but in the nation. We are proud to have spearheaded this campaign and to have gained the support of our council members and the manager,†said Mr. Robert Cruz of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. In photo, Sisters Josephine Murray and Gabriella Lohan of COPS / Metro personally thank City Manager Sheryl Sculley for her support.
On Thursday, August 6 City Manager Sculley will present her proposed budget to the council, to be voted on September 10. COPS / Metro leaders plan to testify in support of this wage boost at public hearings through August and early September.
At 5:30pm Wednesday, August 5th, COPS / Metro will hold a press conference on the steps of City Hall.
COPS / Metro's living wage campaign was launched November, 2014 and includes a broad range of issues: Bexar County wages, Alamo Colleges wages, wages paid by companies receiving City of San Antonio economic incentives, and contracted public workers' wages (i.e. janitors, construction workers and more). In April 2015, COPS / Metro secured public commitments on wages from City Councilmembers at an accountability session drawing over 400 leaders. See press list below for full backstory.
[Photo Credit:Tom Peel, San Antonio Express-News]
City Workers Call on San Antonio City Council to Raise Wage to $13 Per Hour, KENS 5
San Antonio Poised to Increase Wages for Some Workers, San Antonio Express-News
City Manager Recommends Raising Minimum Wage for City Employees to $13 Per Hour, San Antonio Current
City to Propose Minimum Wage Hike, 1200 News Radio WOAI
The Source: The Impact of City-Proposed Pay Raises, Texas Public Radio
Additional Background:
COPS / Metro Alliance Launches Living Wage Campaign, San Antonio Business Journal
Groups Push County to Increase Pay Wage, News 4 San Antonio
Community Groups Push for County Wage Increase, San Antonio Current
Advocates Fight Uphill Battle to Raise Wages in SA, San Antonio Current
Westside Budget Meeting Exposes Public Frustration, San Antonio Express-News [pdf]
City Budget Process Heats Up Amid Contract Uncertainty, KSAT 12
A New Living Wage in San Antonio, Rivard Report
Bexar County Set to Raise Minimum Wage for Employees and Contract Workers,WOAI
Raising Minimum Wage to $13 for City Employees, San Antonio Current
Tax Dollars Should Support Living Wages, San Antonio Express News [pdf]
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