>> sawicky at bellatlantic.net 06/05/01 12:18PM >>
. . . Final question: what are the specific legal barriers which prevent municipalities from exercising control over private sector wages and how did Santa Monica get around these? John
mbs: you'll have to ask a lawyer. State law in general, I guess, since local govs are creatures of the States.
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CB: Agree with mbs. As Max says, LW ordinances regulate wages on contracts with the municipality only. The contract is voided if the company doesn't comply. So, they are bound by their agreeing in contract.
Definitely true in Michigan that municipalities are controlled by state law, even when there is socalled "home rule".
Michigan, rightwing dominated legislature has been considering outlawing LW ordinances after Detroit passed one by ballot initiative. This was delayed when they started to consider outlawing prevailing wage ordinances too (!) ( negative dialectics).
If California has no statute against ( L.A. had one of the first LW ordinances), then Santa Monica is tight, as they say.
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The importance of LW is that it is one of the most active, ongoing, local, labor-oriented struggles in the U.S., outside of union organizing proper. Anybody can play, so the results are going to be imperfect and diverse. But it is something to build on, for those into local labor-focused organizing outside of the Democratic party orbit.
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CB: Agree with Max.