Victory Delivered With All Year-Round ACC County Workers to be Paid a Living Wage!

As of July 1, all Athens-Clarke County year-round workers will be paid a minimum hourly rate of $11.60/hour as a result of the County compensation study findings and tireless work by Athens for Everyone and other workers rights advocates. This will immediately affect approximately 85 County workers, who will see an average hourly increase of $2.38. Athens for Everyone is thrilled that ACC county workers will soon be better valued.

In September of 2015, A4E Organization Coordinator Tim Denson filed an open records request for documents showing a number of County workers were being paid under a living wage, as set by the MIT Living Wage Calculator (When this campaign was begun that rate was $10.17/hour, it is currently at $10.82) and some were being paid as low as minimum wage. This kicked off Athens for Everyone’s months-long campaign to put a policy in place guaranteeing all County workers were paid a living wage or higher. That campaign, led by former A4E Workers Rights Coordinator Drew Hooks, and alongside the Economic Justice Coalition, took the shape of petitions, rallies, viral videos, lobbying, and speeches at Commission meetings. That work led the Commission to request staff conduct a wage-study and classification project with the hope to have all county employees above a Living Wage. We are happy to see that that has happened and commend the staff and Commissioners who worked to see this through. We will continue to call for a base wage established that is tied to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, ensuring that wages for County workers will never fall below a living wage ever again.

[youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pjiWQC5i6g&w=450&h=255]
Athens for Everyone urged adoption of a living wage policy in 2016

With a relatively low unemployment-rate but 38% poverty rate in Athens, it is pivotal for workers to be paid a living wage if we are ever seriously going to tackle poverty in Athens. Athens for Everyone hopes this victory for County Workers will be the beginning of a living wage movement in Athens and A4E will use the momentum of this victory to push for other area employers, such as the University of Georgia, to adopt similar policies. The entire community must all work together to build a movement that sees employers ensuring that their workers are valued and cared for and paid a living wage.  Let’s build a Living Wage Culture in Athens!

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Read the Athens-Banner Herald article for more!

10. Consent Culture Now! Rally a Success!

On a freezing February Saturday in downtown Athens, dozens of people began to gather. In the midst of the regular weekend bar crowd the voices of a hundred protesters could be heard up College Avenue and across North Campus. The diverse group had come together to advocate for a future where sexual assault isn’t pushed under the rug, and society doesn’t turn a blind eye to rape culture. (READ MORE…)

9. A4E convenes Transit Town Hall meeting in Pinewoods, pushing for transit expansion on US29

Athens for Everyone members, Pinewoods residents, Commissioner Kelly Girtz, and others concerned about transportation options along US highway 29 assembled in the Pinewoods Library last week.  A4E President Tim Denson explained our plan to extend bus service along US29 all the way out to the county line, and slightly beyond to the Veteran’s Clinic in Madison County. [Read More…]

8. A4E joins Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Real Food UGA, and more to demand Wendy’s join the Fair Food Program

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers have been pressuring retail food companies to join the Fair Food Program to ensure workers who pick fruits and vegetables on participating farms are provided humane wages and working conditions. Athens for Everyone, along with Real Food UGA & other participating groups, have joined the boycott of Wendy’s until Wendy’s joins the Fair Food Program. A4E was able to host CIW organizers in Athens for a day of action that included a rally, picket, and teach in [READ MORE…]http://www.ciw-online.org/blog/2016/10/tour-reports-southeast-midwest/

7. Georgians Successfully Urge Gov. Deal to Veto Campus Carry Bill!

Since the fall of 2015, Athens for Everyone has been fighting for all county employees to be paid a living wage of $10.17/hr (or higher). Progress has been made but much work is still to be done.

The County will take on a wage-study and classification project that should raise the hourly wage for about 100 of the 240 County workers being paid less than a MIT-researched Living Wage for Athens, to $10.17/hr or greater. This classification should be done by January 1.

An unofficial timeline has been created to raise the other 140 jobs to, or above, a living wage eventually also.

“Even though we did not see funds to pay living wages to all ACCUG employees, we are hopeful the commissioners and staff will keep to their word,” said Drew Hooks, Workers Rights Campaign Coordinator for Athens for Everyone. “We will continue to push the mayor and commission until living wages are paid to all part-time, seasonal and temporary employees. It is their moral obligation as employers, and it is their economic responsibility to curb poverty through paying higher wages. If we want an Athens that is affordable for everyone, then the local government needs to set the example and pay their workers living wages.”

Look for a detailed breakdown of the Living Wage story later this week here at athensforeveryone.com

February 16, 2016

Athens for Everyone Delivers Petition Demanding Living Wages for All ACCUG Employees

At the February 16th Mayor and Commission Agenda Setting meeting, Athens for Everyone submitted a petition containing approximately 650 signatures from residents and Athens workers. The petition demands that the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government pay all part-time, seasonal and temporary county employees a Living Wage of at least $10.17 per hour. This wage correlates with the MIT Living Wage calculator as the minimum hourly wage a single Athenian without dependents needs in order to pay all of their necessary expenses.

Following the precedent set in a previous year’s budget goal, ACCUG pays all full-time employees a living wage, but many part-time and seasonal workers remain underpaid. Athens for Everyone began circulating a petition in October calling on the county to expand their living wage policy, quickly garnering hundreds of signatures of support on paper and online. Following an October rally downtown and with interest quickly mounting, Athens for Everyone put out the call to “fill the room” for a living wage. At the November 3rd Mayor and Commission meeting, dozens of Athenians attended to show their support and filled every available seat. The people spoke and our local representatives listened; Living Wages were included in the Goals and Objectives for the FY 2017 budget.

“The people of Athens care about Living Wages,” said A4E Workers Rights Campaign Coordinator Drew Hooks. “When we were in the community collecting signatures, people from all political persuasions said they thought workers should be paid living wages, not poverty wages. In fact, many people said our modest goal of $10.17 was not enough.”

Georgia law prohibits cities and counties from setting a minimum wage higher than the state minimum wage, but the Unified Government can ensure their employees are paid at least a living wage. By paying a living wage to all their employees, ACCUG is setting an example to the University of Georgia and other employers in the county. By demanding Living Wages, Athens workers are sending a message that the people of Athens deserve better than poverty wages. The people of Athens have spoken loud and clear, it is time for the ACCUG and other employers in the county to listen.

However, after submitting the petition Mayor Nancy Denson stated, “ I think that we all have every intention to bring all of those people to that living wage level.” With this news, Athens for Everyone will continue pushing for an ACC Living Wage Policy until one is in place ensuring all ACC County Employees earn a Living Wage.

On Thursday, February 11th, 2016 at 1pm at the Georgia State Capitol, the Georgia Senate Insurance and Labor Committee is having the first ever hearing on a bill to raise the Georgia State minimum wage from $5.15 to $15. This is a historic, big deal, and we need you to show your support.

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections is backing an attempt by Elections Supervisor Gail Schrader to boost the pay of poll workers, a move Schrader said is motivated in part by discussions among other county officials to ensure all county government workers, including part-time work and temporary positions such as poll workers, are earning a living wage.

Schrader also said Tuesday it has been “a long time” since poll workers received an increase in compensation, even though their duties have increased. “They certainly earn it,” Schrader said of the money paid to poll workers.

The local activist group Athens For Everyone, which has pushed for a living wage for all county workers, sets $10.17 an hour as a target for Athens-Clarke County, a number based on a calculator developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (read the entire article here)

Athens for Everyone is excited to see progress being made towards an ACC Living Wage Policy where all County employees will be paid a Living Wage. We are also happy to hear that the number of employees to be affected by this pay increase will actually be dozens. If you have not yet signed the petition for an ACC Living Wage Policy online or in person, please do! We must keep fighting until it is a done deal!

At the end of a very long Mayor & Commission voting session the once standing-room-only crowd had only gotten slightly smaller but more energized as they prepared to show support for the A4E-drafted ACC Living Wage Policy.

Thank you Jordan St. Martin-Reyes for producing the video.

Read the entire story here.

Tuesday night, dozens of Athenians filled City Hall to show their support for a Living Wage to be paid to ALL County workers.

At the end of a very long Mayor & Commission voting session the once standing-room-only crowd had only gotten slightly smaller but more energized as they prepared to show support for the A4E-drafted ACC Living Wage Policy.

A4E Outreach Coordinator Jesse Houle started off by announcing our ongoing public petition for the Living Wage Policy, “We request that the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government ensure all County employees are paid a Living Wage. We ask that this ACC Living Wage Policy be set in accordance with the nationally-recognized MIT Living Wage Calculator. Currently, the Living Wage in Athens is $10.17 or greater per hour according to that calculator…I would like to emphasize part time and seasonal workers, this is about all County workers.”

Before finishing, Jesse addressed the people in attendance, “I would like to ask my fellow human beings in this room to raise your hands or stand to show that you are here in support of this ACC Living Wage Policy.” Almost every person in the room then stood or raised their hand (see Grady Newsource video below).

[youtube]https://youtu.be/7qok9jX_fFk[/youtube]

A4E Board Member Drew Hooks came to the podium next to emphasize how this policy could help the overall economic situation in Athens, GA. “This policy is something that can set an example for other employers in Clarke County” he stated, “including our largest employer, the University of Georgia.”

Linda Lloyd, the Executive Director of the Economic Justice Coalition, echoed the importance and feasibility of an ACC Living Wage Policy, “This 38% poverty rate we have here in Athens makes me sick. This is about families and living wages.”

Last to the podium was Athens for Everyone President Tim Denson. Tim began by reading the first goal listed in the ACC Economic Development Department’s 2015 Goals & Objectives:
Identify and recruit economic development opportunities that support and enhance Athens-Clarke County’s quality of life, increase the tax base, & provide opportunities for sustained, livable wages for workers.

“So what we are doing here tonight is we are identifying an economic development opportunity that will provide sustained, livable wages for workers”, Tim said.

“As of September 1, we have a minimum of 11 positions part-time or temporary workers making under $10.17 per hour.”, Tim said, referencing the Open Records Requests filed by Athens for Everyone. “There is a whole list of other season positions not counted here too that are also being paid under $10.17 an hour. Why do we feel like part time workers work is valued less? [Their work] is not less valuable.”

After the public comment section was over, Commissioner were given the chance for report backs and three of the ten Commissioners spoke favorably of the Policy. Commissioner Andy Herod was the first to mention the ACC Living Wage Policy:

“It’s a very important thing for us to set an example.”, Commissioner Herod said. “The question is does someone who works deserve to be paid a living wage for the amount of time that they are working? I think the answer to that question is yes. I would certainly be interested in us looking at that issue when it comes budget time.”

Commissioner Melissa Link echoed those sentiments, “We take very good care of our ACC full time employees and it’s high-time that we take care of our part-time employees. At the very least we can pay them a Living Wage.”

Commissioner Kelly Girtz also spoke his support, “I’m interested in a strong Living Wage floor for our employees, including our part-time employees.”

The Athens for Everyone Workers Rights Campaign plans on working with the Athens-Clarke County Government over the next few months to ensure that an ACC Living Wage Policy is in place moving forward. The A4E Workers Rights meetings are always welcoming to new volunteers with the next meeting happening on November 8 at 2pm at the ACC Public Library.

–Tim Denson

11/3/2015