After years of austerity politics and economic transformations that devastated working-class communities, religious leaders, workers, and community activists came together to fight for a living wage in Los Angeles. The premise of their campaign was seemingly simple — all working people deserve to live in dignity — but provided a capacious framework that encompassed a wide variety of issues and concerns. The coalition’s victory over the opposition of the mayor and the city’s powerful business interests demonstrated the effectiveness of their community-based approach to municipal governance.
The fight to win a living wage generated significant media coverage in a variety of forms and outlets. Included here is a partial list of coverage, compiled by veterans of the campaign.
Videos
This 1998 campaign video focuses on the fight to extend the city’s living wage ordinance to workers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Don’t be a Scrooge: Ghost of Christmas Past visits L.A. City Council
Among the most dramatic moments in the campaign came during a holidays-themed action at the final City Council session in 1996, when community member Dan Clemmon dressed as the ghost of Jacob Marley from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” as he called on the council members not to go the way of scrooge.
In this 2000 video from CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), founding member Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. asserts, “The church cannot be the church unless we get into the marketplace and insist that work is dignity, and that every employee, every worker deserves those benefits that enables them to indeed attain an abundant life that is full of the riches spiritual as well as the riches of bread.”
Raise L.A. Coalition Victory, 2014
As with the Living Wage coalition, the Raise L.A. Coalition fought to establish a living wage across the hospitality industry, winning a major victory that boosted wages over $15/hour by 2015.
Santa Monica 2001 Living Wage Campaign
This 2001 short documentary about the fight for a living wage in Santa Monica also discusses the impacts of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Living Wage Campaign: Chicago and Los Angeles
Produced by the Chicago Jobs and Living Wage Campaign, this short documentary draws connections to the campaign in Los Angeles as well.
Selected Press Coverage: Los Angeles Living Wage
Borsch, Frederick H, Beerman, Leonard, and Sano Roy, “Yes: It Makes Ethical and Economic Sense,” Los Angeles Times 30 Dec 1996.
Murray, Bobbi, “Living Wage Comes of Age. An Increasingly Sophisticated Movement Has Put Opponents on the Defensive.,” The Nation 273, no. 4 (July 23, 2001): 24–28.
Meyerson, Harold, “No Justice, No Growth: A new labor-left alliance scrambles L.A.’s growth politics – and creates middle-income jobs in a city where they’re vanishing,” LA Weekly, July 17-23, 1998.
—- “Done Deal: Living Wage sails through City Council,” LA Weekly, vol. 19, no. 17 (March 21-27, 1997).
—- “The Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy: A New Model for American Liberalism?,” The American Prospect, August 6, 2013.
Aubry, Erin, “With Blessings: Religion on the (Picket) Line,” L.A. Weekly, Oct. 8-14, 1999.
Cardenas, Jose. “She’s Working Overtime for L.A.’s Living Wage Battle; Success Made Madeline Janis-Aparicio Labor’s Alter Ego. But Can She Do It Again in Santa Monica?” Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2000.
Cedillo, Gilbert, “All Should Feel Pain of Reform; Welfare: Business Must Pay Living Wages and Provide Health Benefits for All Workers,” Los Angeles Times, August 19, 1996.
Dreier, Peter, Pastor, Manuel, “It’s Business as Usual for Living-Wage Opponents,” Los Angeles Times, Dec. 8, 1996.
Dreier, Peter, “Moving in the Labor Laane,” New Labor Forum (Sage Publications Inc.) 20, no. 3 (Fall 2011): 88–92.
Feingold, Danny, “Putting Faith in Labor,” Los Angeles Times, Aug. 28, 1998.
H, Eric, “Pray for the Union Label,” Jewish Journal, Oct. 14, 1999.
Krikorian, Greg, “Council Overrides Veto, OKs Wage Law,” Los Angeles Times, April 2, 1997.
Merl, Jean, “L.A. Council OKs ‘Living Wage’ Law for City Contracts: Labor: With Enough Votes to Override Promised Riordan Veto, Panel Approves Minimum Pay for Lowest-Level Workers,” Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1997.
— “Living Wage’ Plan Cost Is Pegged at $130 Million a Year,” Los Angeles Times, Dec. 12, 1996.
Newton, Jim, “Mayor Trying to Keep LAX Exempt From New Pay Law,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 2, 1997.
— “County May Slash General Relief,” Los Angeles Times, May 17, 1997.
— “Agency Says ‘Living Wage’ Law Covers Airport Guards, Janitors; Labor: Ruling is a loss for Riordan, who seeks only voluntary compliance by airlines. Carriers vow to appeal,” Los Angeles Times, June 11, 1998.
— “LAX Security Staff Begins Union Drive; Airport: Workers seek benefits of city’s ‘living wage’ law. They also say employers have threatened retaliation,” Los Angeles Times, June 27, 1998.
— “County OKs Living Wage Plan,” Los Angeles Times, April 14, 1999.
Meyer, Josh, “County May Slash General Relief: Welfare: Supervisors will vote next week on restricting eligibility and limiting benefits to four months for able-bodied, officials say,” Los Angeles Times, May 17, 1997.
Twair, Pat McDonnell, “In the Lap of Luxury – From City Council to Rodeo Drive: campaigning for a Living Wage in Los Angeles,” Sojourner, Sept-Oct. 1998: 34-36.
Watanabe, Teresa. “A Union of Faith and Labor: As a Booming Economy Leaves Some of Its Workers Far behind, an Interfaith Convocation Reminds Members of the Clergy about Scriptural Commands to Help the Needy,” Los Angeles Times, July 22, 2000.
Zahniser, David, “Council to debate wage plan” Pasadena Star News, June 8, 1998.
“Living Wages in L.A.” Shelterforce: The Original Voice of Community Development, Jan. 1, 1998.
Selected Press Coverage: Santa Monica Living Wage
Haefele, Marc B., “Where Money DIdn’t Talk – In Santa Monica at least, the good guys won,” L.A. Weekly, Nov. 17-23, 2000.
Lee, Grace, “Miramarred: Santa Monica hotel busts its union,” L.A. Weekly, Oct. 10-16, 1997.
Meyerson, Harold, “Powerlines: Masters of Deceit – Behind Santa Monica’s breathtakingly bogus living-wage initiative” L.A. Weekly, Oct. 13-19, 2000.
Morin, Monte, “Battle Over Wages Generates Dueling Santa Monica Plans,” Los Angeles Times, April 19, 2000.
Murray, Bobbi, “Santa Monica’s living wage referendum isn’t what it’s cracked up to be,” L.A. Magazine, vol. 45, no. 11, November 2000.
Petterson, Edward, “ How to Get More Good Jobs in L.A.,” Los Angeles Business Journal, Nov. 22-28, 1999.
Piccalo, Gina, “Santa Monica Hotel Workers Step Up Protests,” Los Angeles Times June 29, 2000.
— “Anti-Living Wage Measure is Put on Santa Monica Ballot,” Los Angeles Times, Aug. 3, 2000.
— “2 Studies Differ on Plan for Living Wage,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 9, 2000.
— “Minimum Wage Measure: Activists Savor Victory, Expect Fight to Go On,” Los Angeles Times, Nov. 9, 2000.
— “Decision 2000 / LOCAL ELECTIONS; MINIMUM WAGE MEASURE; activists savor victory, expect fight to go on,” Los Angeles Times, Nov. 9, 2000.
Scheer, Robert, “Hotels spare no expense to keep wages low,” Westside Weekly, Oct. 15, 2000.
Welch, Deanna, “Living Wage debate hits the beach – Activist group claims Jonathan Club has retaliated against workers who support the new wage law,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), Oct. 31, 1999.
— “Federal official says Miramar’s labor practices are unfair,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), July 2, 1998.
— “Union Supporters march to City Hall,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), May 14, 1998.
— “Falla: Re-hired and re-fired – Union issues set to heat up again as fired Sheraton worker tries to win back job,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), April 30, 1998.
— “Living wage issue heats up,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), Sept. 5, 1999.
— “Hotel Housekeeper gets warm welcome back,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), March 2, 2000.
— “’Miramar marathon’ may end – Santa Monica hotel’s five-year labor struggle could wrap up with workers’ April 7 vote on union status.” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), March 30, 2000.
— “’Miramar marathon’ may end – Santa Monica hotel’s five-year labor struggle could wrap up with workers’ April 7 vote on union status.” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), March 30, 2000.
Wilkinson, Kelly, “Living-wage proponents rally support,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), April 20, 2000.
“The Living Wage Issue,” Santa Monica Sun, vol. 2, no. 24, Sept. 3, 1999.
“Report: business can handle living wage,” Our Times (supplement to the L.A. Times), August 31, 2000.