Living wage proposed for San Mateo County contract workers

"The concerns that we have are not only a minimum wage or a living wage, but losing the middle class," said Supervisor Mike Nevin, who proposed the living wage ordinance. "My proposal today doesn't go far enough but at least it's a start. Our economy has never been better, but there is a divide."

Supervisor Rich Gordan, who made the domestic partner benefit proposal, also wants to increase benefits so this county can be at the same level as neighboring counties.

"County contracts should insure non-discrimination by insuring that employees have benefits for domestic partners - the same as spouses," Gordan said.

If passed, the two ordinances would go into effect with all new county contracts beginning next year, although the supervisors are also considering including all amended contracts. The living wage ordinance would start at a minimum of $8 an hour for contract workers, and increase to $10 an hour over a two-year period. Employers who provide health benefits to their employees would be allowed to off-set their costs with a $1 an hour reduction in the living wage for a total of $9 an hour.

Contract workers would be brought up to the level of regular county employees, who have domestic partner benefits and a minimum starting salary of around $8.25 an hour. Nevin said that public employee salaries would also increase to the $10 minimum along with the contract workers' schedule.

Nevin said the $10 living wage for San Mateo County would be in sync with other Bay are living wage ordinances - San Francisco recently passed a $10 an hour minimum for public employees, and Santa Cruz County is at $11 an hour. Nevin also based the $10 an hour minimum on the salaries of In-Home Support Service workers, a low-skill group of public employees who provide home care for the elderly and disabled.

"Where this becomes significant is that we will become leaders. We will not contract with anyone that doesn't make an attempt to treat their employees a lot better than they are now. One of the bad things that comes with a booming economy is the divide - it separates the haves from the have-nots," Nevin said.

The ordinances, if passed, would be subject to further review at the end of the two-year period - as the cost of living in the county continues to rise, so may an increase in the living wage.

Contract reporter at: alison@smdailyjournal.com