Democratic members of the Indianapolis City-County Council offered a non-binding special resolution at last night's City-County Council meeting which adopted the Indianapolis Retail Workers Bill of Rights. Council Republicans successfully blocked a vote on the resolution last night, arguing it should be heard in the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee because of the substantive policy statements it proposed adopting, albeit non-binding. If had been a binding resolution, I can assure you that at least several members of the Democratic caucus would have been under heavy pressure to oppose it, and at least a couple of them who own small businesses would never abide by the terms of the resolution.
Some of the terms merely restate what is already existing law. Indianapolis' Human Rights Ordinance already bars discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. OSHA regulations impose workplace safety regulations on employers. Existing civil rights laws protect employees' freedom of association. The Affordable Care Act gives employers the choice of providing health care to their employees or paying penalties. And existing collective bargaining laws provide avenues for employees to collectively address workplace concerns.
Other provisions are problematic. If a retail worker wants to work full-time rather than part-time, the employer is supposed to provide full-time employment. Retail employers are expected to provide access to health care benefits and sick leave regardless of the number of hours the employee works, and the health care must be affordable (wasn't the ACA supposed to take care of that problem?). Their jobs must be protected in the event of a corporate takeover. Yeah, right.
If the retail workers present at last night's city council meeting are really serious about holding council members accountable, then they should be making these Democratic members put their money where there mouth is. This council allows tens of millions of our tax dollars each year to be appropriated for the exclusive benefit of the downtown hotel, restaurants and other retail businesses which benefit from the convention, sports and entertainment industries propped up with our tax dollars. Virtually none of those businesses adhere to this suggested bill of rights. If you're really serious about it, tie the funding to those businesses entering into work agreements agreeing to these terms. Don't hold your breath. It won't happen. These folks enjoy the free tickets, food and other entertainment they get courtesy of their generous use of our taxpayer dollars to prop up an industry that historically treats its workers poorly.
Here are the rights set out in Proposal 234:
ARTICLE I. Every retail worker who wants to work full-time should have access to full-time hours.
ARTICLE II. All retail workers should have stable schedules posted weeks in advance, so scheduled hours do not
hamper their ability to juggle life’s demands, such as child care, school, a second job or medical needs,
and prevent them from climbing the economic ladder.
ARTICLE III. Every retail worker, regardless of the number of hours worked, should have access to health care
benefits and sick leave.
ARTICLE IV. No retail worker should be denied the protection afforded to other retail workers because of their gender
identity or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE V. Every retail worker, regardless of the employer, is entitled to job and benefit protections in the event of a
corporate takeover.
ARTICLE VI. Every retail worker should have access to affordable health care.
ARTICLE VII. No retail worker shall be put in a position that does not guarantee workplace safety and other health
protections.
ARTICLE VII. No retail worker shall be coerced, intimidated or silenced because they exercise their right to freedom of
association.
ARTICLE VIII. Every retail worker is entitled to join together with coworkers to address any work-related concerns
without any interference from the employer
7 comments:
Hoo boy, Gary, you sure got that right! And it bears repeating: "...these Democratic members [of the Indianapolis City County Council should] put their money where there mouth is. This council allows tens of millions of our tax dollars each year to be appropriated for the exclusive benefit of the downtown hotel, restaurants and other retail businesses which benefit from the convention, sports and entertainment industries propped up with our tax dollars. Virtually none of those businesses adhere to this suggested bill of rights. If you're really serious about it, tie the funding to those businesses entering into work agreements agreeing to these terms. Don't hold your breath. It won't happen. These folks enjoy the free tickets, food and other entertainment they get courtesy of their generous use of our taxpayer dollars to prop up an industry that historically treats its workers poorly.."
Hypocrisy thy name is "Democrat" and your middle name is "Grandstand".
A whole room full of stupid...
This is essentially a copy of the San Francisco retail bill of rights ordinance that took effect July 3. The San Francisco Retail Workers Bill of Rights will affect "formula retail" businesses in San Francisco who have at least 40 establishments worldwide. The term “Formula Retail Establishment” targets chain restaurants and retail stores. It applies to businesses that maintain at least two of the following features: a standardized array of merchandise, a standard façade, a standardized décor and color scheme, uniform apparel, standardized signage, or a trademark or servicemark.
The bill as enacted in San Francisco does not apply to small business. Only large chains.
The Indianapolis city council debated and advanced several measures at its July meeting, but they were mostly symbolic, and few had any solid legal impact. Zach Adamson wants BlueIndy electric cars towed from downtown in a show of disapproval for the program. The council also wanted banks to do more to maintain abandoned homes in the foreclosure process, even though there’s nothing they can really do about it. And they threw ceremonial support for San Francisco’s retail workers bill of rights.
The bottom line. Voters are listening to see who cares about them. These ceremonial issues sometimes play very well to an electorate that knows Republican candidates support Barnes and Thornburg law firm agendas and take meetings with Republican interests down at the statehouse.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/13/boy-scout-leaders-vote-to-end-ban-on-adult-homosex/ One wonders if such is designed to shed liability from National groups and stick the whole liability problem with local ones? I can think of businesses in Indianapolis who ought to have concerns about being sued for acts of their employees.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) signed his new state budget into law on Sunday with a last-minute change that strips the words "living wage" from state laws and replaces it with "minimum wage."
The change means minimum-wage Wisconsin workers will earn nearly $6,000 per year less than what the Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculates is a living wage in the state for a full time worker. And they will have no recourse. MIT says a living wage would be $10.13 an hour.
The new law eliminates the ability of low-wage workers to appeal for a living wage. Previously, Wisconsin law stated that employee pay "shall be not less than a living wage," defined as "adequate to permit any employee to maintain herself or himself in minimum comfort, decency, physical and moral well-being." Wisconsin's state minimum wage will now set firm at $7.25 an hour.
Thanks, Republican Scott Walker.
Wow Anon 11:56.... typical extremist left liberal Democrat crap... instead of "b-b-b-but what about George Bush?" now becomes "b-b-b-but what about that Scott Walker?"
You people are just amazin, man... just amazin'... you possess ZERO knowledge of economics and private ownership and free choice in employment... once you destroy what is left of the private sector what happens then???
Well, your boy Walker isn't polling well. 3% to Trump's 17%, down in the bottom rung, may not make the debates. Walker's a zealot. He'll never get the nomination. There isn't a Fortune 500 company out there that will endorse getting rid of the minimum wage or endorsing these odd Walker proposals. You say I have ZERO knowledge of economics. Spoken like a zealot, bubba. I"ll put my tax return up against yours any day, and my educational credentials too. You guys spout this conservative crap. But its all talk. Corporate America sets the agenda, and they didn't like Walker's speech the other day about getting rid of the minimum wage. And neither did the party, which is trying to pull in Latino voters. Back to the mail room.
Post a Comment