MORE Ordinance – IBEW’s Commitment to the Community
Trade unions such as IBEW have maintained a long tradition of providing an economic advantage to their members. Now, underprivileged residents in Milwaukee will have the same opportunity to receive a fair wage for their work.
As a result of the efforts of the Good Jobs, Livable Neighborhoods Coalition, the Milwaukee Opportunities for Restoring Employment (MORE) Ordinance was recently approved by the Milwaukee Common Council. The ordinance creates an opportunity for Milwaukee residents to receive increased economic benefits from development projects funded by their tax dollars.
As of December 2008, there were 20,845 unemployed Milwaukee residents, and 26 percent of the city’s residents currently live in poverty. The adoption of the MORE Ordinance will ensure these residents are given the necessary opportunities to be a part of Milwaukee’s development.
The MORE Ordinance requires 40 percent of worker hours on public works projects and private projects that receive more than $1 million in direct financial assistance from the city to be performed by unemployed or disadvantaged Milwaukee residents. Prevailing wage must also be paid on these projects, and a distinct bidding advantage is given to Milwaukee-based businesses.
In Milwaukee, prevailing wage for these types of larger, commercial projects tends to be union-level pay. Through collective bargaining, unions have succeeded in raising the standard of living of their members, allowing them to make family-supporting wages, rather than simply a “living wage.”
But the ordinance doesn’t stop at providing opportunity for the unemployed. For each publicly funded project covered by the ordinance, the maximum number of apprentices recommended on a trade-by-trade basis must be employed on-site. This ensures the continuance of construction career ladders and the availability of employment and educational resources.
The MORE Ordinance also aims to foster emerging business development. The proposal requires each city contracting department to utilize emerging business enterprises for a percentage of specific expenditure categories. These include construction (25%), purchase of services (18%), purchase of professional services (18%) and purchase of supplies (18%).
IBEW Local 494 is proud to support hiring local labor at a prevailing wage. Learn more about the Good Jobs, Livable Neighborhoods Coalition and the MORE ordinance at www.gjln.org. |
