On Tuesday, May 26, 2015, the El Cerrito Democratic Club passed a resolution urging the El Cerrito City Council to enact a minimum wage ordinance with amounts and annual adjustments no lower than the than those set forth in the City of Richmond’s minimum wage ordinance by January 1, 2016.
Getting a minimum wage ordinance passed in El Cerrito is one of the Club’s strategic goals and passing a resolution was the first step.
Now it’s time to get the word out.
First stop, the El Cerrito City Council.
The President and Vice President will introducing the ordinance and kicking off the campaign at the June 2, 2015 City Council meeting.
We need Club members to show up and give their support.
Executive Board members will be at the following meetings speaking about the Club’s resolution to bring awareness to the issue to build momentum. Please join them if you can.
- Tuesday, June 2-El Cerrito City Council Meeting-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 3-Human Relations Commission 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 16-El Cerrito City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, June 25, Economic Development Commission 7:30 p.m.
- All meeting are at El Cerrito City Hall-10890 San Pablo Avenue
This is an important campaign workers and residents in the City of El Cerrito. Working households can’t survive on the current minimum wage and while struggling to afford the high cost of living in the Bay Area. A high minimum wage rate helps households become more economically stable, protects public safety/health, reduces employee turnover within businesses, improves job performance of employees and provides a boost for the local economy.
Things to consider:
- Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour
- California minimum wage is $9.00 per hour ($10 per hour by 2016)
- Seven of 10 low wage occupations (service workers, waiters, retail sales, cashiers etc) are expected to see large job growth in the next 10 years
- 13.5 percent of El Cerrito households earn less than $25,000 per year
- Most of the job industry within the City of El Cerrito are retail or service-oriented
Text of the Club’s min wage resolution is below:
WHEREAS, a person who works full time in the City of El Cerrito should earn enough to pay for his or her basic living expenses; and
WHEREAS, the cost of living in West Contra Costa County is significantly higher than the state average; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Richmond became the first city in West Contra Costa County to pass a municipal minimum wage ordinance to help fill the gap between the California state minimum wage and our higher-than-average local cost of living;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the El Cerrito Democratic Club calls on the El Cerrito City Council to enact by January 1st, 2016, a municipal minimum wage with amounts and annual adjustments no lower than those set forth in the City of Richmond’s Minimum Wage Ordinance.
Let’s build momentum and help build our local economy by supporting working households and families. Raise the minimum wage!
-Carla Hansen, ECDC President