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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 18:19 |
 On March 13 a coalition of local groups known as the Living Wage Campaign presented a proposal to Asheville City Council that the city adopt an ordinance ensuring that city employees are all paid a living wage ó which the campaign defines as at least $10.86 an hour without health care and $9.50 with.
The ordinance would also include whether or not a given employer pays a living wage as one of the considerations in future city contracts.
While largely symbolic ó the city already pays its employees a living wage ó it is a valiant first step toward addressing a growing problem in this city.
Notably, Asheville is once again setting the bar for pursuing a more
innovative, grassroots approach to this issue. Where other cities have
adopted strict regulations to try to pursue this same end, the Living
Wage Campaign is first trying to get city government and businesses to
set an example.
A diverse association of unions, religious groups, nonprofits,
activists, minority and womenís rights groups, the campaign comes from
many sectors of Asheville.
The living wage is based on the cost of an average one-bedroom
apartment and minimal living expenses, using the same criteria used by
the federal government.
Ashevilleís cost of living is notoriously high, and yet many of its
jobs ó especially in the tourism, restaurant and service sectors ó pay
far below a living wage.
While there are certainly other factors contributing to the crunch felt
by many Asheville residents ó the high cost of housing and unfair
state-mandated water prices are two ó the low wages are an especially
sore point.
As the city grows, so should the amount its workers make.
Sadly, that has not happened. In the process, the diverse cultures that make this city a unique draw are being endangered.
After all, many ambitious young writers, artists and free-thinkers
donít exactly start out with huge salaries. Creative endeavors ó one of
the most vital parts of this city ó often need time to come to
fruition. Thatís hard to accomplish when housing and living costs rise
and many jobs pay far below a living wage.
Furthermore, businesses that pay their employees a living wage see
lower turnover, higher morale and a better quality of work. Business,
as the Asheville area has well demonstrated, must be about more than
the bottom line for long-term success.
We hope that the city will pass the ordinance suggested by the Living
Wage Campaign ó and that the cityís businesses will find a way to work
with it, rather than reflexively opposing it.
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