“The living wage ordinance is a responsible solution that will greatly improve the quality of life of the Century Corridor hotel workers,” said Congresswoman Solis.  “We commend the Mayor and the City Council for enacting this ordinance and urge area hotel employers to respect workers’ rights.”

Twenty one other members of the California Congressional delegation joined Solis on the letter, including Rep. George Miller, Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation.

The text of the letter is below.

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December 7, 2006

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

200 North Spring Street, Room 303

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

As Members of the Congress representing California, we write to express our strong support for the living wage ordinance that was recently signed into law to benefit hotel workers near LAX airport in the Century Boulevard Corridor.  Fair wages are essential to a just society and are fundamental to the growth of the middle class. We applaud you and the Los Angeles City Council for supporting the LAX hotel workers living wage and support efforts to ensure that the new living wage ordinance is enacted.  

The living wage ordinance is a responsible solution that will greatly improve the quality of life of the Century Corridor hotel workers.  It gives the hotels the choice of paying the new living wage or reaching a collective bargaining agreement with their employees. 

The wages of 3,500 Century Corridor hotel workers are currently 20 percent below wages of hotel workers in downtown Los Angeles, even though the hotels in Century Corridor generate more revenue per room than those downtown.   It is estimated that 40 to 60 percent of workers at the Century Corridor hotels make less than the living wage.  With rising costs of health care, energy, and housing in California, a living wage is essential to keep hotel worker families from slipping into poverty. 

Evidence from Los Angeles’ first living wage ordinance shows that contrary to the negative predictions of some business leaders, significant job losses and other problems largely did not occur. Rather than pursue a costly ballot initiative to decide this issue, we urge local business leaders to work with their employees, either through collective bargaining or by paying the new living wage.  We should set an example that Los Angeles is a city that stands for workers’ rights and fair wages for all. 

As Members of the California Congressional delegation, we understand that our state’s diverse economy requires a balance of many priorities, but workers’ rights and fair wages should be guaranteed and protected universally.  We congratulate you and the Los Angeles City Council for your vision and dedication to fair wages and economic prosperity.  We strongly support the new living wage ordinance and urge swift enactment of the ordinance for hard-working hotel employees in the Century Corridor.  

Sincerely,

HILDA L. SOLIS, GEORGE MILLER, ZOE LOFGREN, MIKE HONDA, LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD, DIANE WATSON, JOE BACA, ANNA ESHOO, LYNN WOOLSEY, SUSAN DAVIS, LORETTA SANCHEZ, SAM FARR, BARBARA LEE, XAVIER BECERRA, TOM LANTOS, JIM COSTA, BRAD SHERMAN, JANE HARMAN, ELLEN TAUSCHER, ADAM SCHIFF, HENRY WAXMAN.

CC: Members of the Los Angeles City Council