KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mayor Quinton Lucas wants a humane wage for workers at entities that get 25 percent or more of their annual funding from the city.
The Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee will talk about the proposed ordinance at their 10:30 a.m. meeting Tuesday at City Hall.
Voters approved a minimum humane wage for city workers of $10 per hour in August 2017.
Annual pay raises of $1.25 per hour for those workers would continue until the minimum humane wage is $15 per hour in 2022.
"The City Council recognizes the benefits of a humane wage requirement, such as decreasing the need for social services for individuals and families and creating economic benefit for the city," according to the ordinance.
If the ordinance is approved by the committee and later by the full city council, those workers would be paid:
- Beginning May 1, 2021: $12.50;
- Beginning September 1, 2021: $13.75;
- Beginning September 1, 2022: $15
Terrence Wise is a local leader in the Stand Up KC group which fight for a $15 minimum wage. He says he supports the pay increases.
"There are 64 million workers who get paid less than $15 per hour, and they all have experiences like mine: living without a car, trying to keep a roof over your head, food in the house, and to give your kids a better life," Wise said.
Wise will give this testimony from a statement on Tuesday:
"Our fate is tied to the fate of the city workers and the city-funded workers who will be impacted by the bills you are considering. And their fate is tied to mine," Support this raise. And send a concrete message that the people of Kansas City, through the power of our elected leaders, stand with and stand for economic justice and dignity for ALL working people, no matter where you work."
