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JwJ Activists Push Through Living Wage Ordinance in Bellingham, WA!
After months of hard work by the Jobs with Justice Whatcom County Organizing Committee, the WA Living Wage Movement (WA Association of Churches), and the Northwest WA Central Labor Council, members of the Bellingham City Council approved the first Living Wage ordinance to be passed in Washington State! The ordinance calls for city contractors to pay $10 for employees who receive health benefits and $11.50 for those without benefits.
This victory was achieved after JwJ activists collected over 1,100 signatures, made hundreds of phone calls, and showed strong support for the ordinance at the numerous City Council Hearings held. About 20 JwJers were present at the final vote – high numbers for Bellingham hearings.
Rebecca Johnson, a Bellingham activist and former City Council candidate, stated that “we have a right and responsibility to see that employees paid with our tax dollars are paid enough to support themselves and their families. This not only makes ethical sense, it also makes economic sense.”
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