Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Question 1, Department of Labor Amendment (June 2020)
| Philadelphia Question 1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date June 2, 2020 | |
| Topic City governance | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
Philadelphia Question 1, the Department of Labor Amendment, was on the ballot for voters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 2020.[1] It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported creating the Philadelphia Department of Labor, along with a Board of Labor Standards, to administer and enforce citywide labor laws and collective bargaining agreements. |
A “no” vote opposed creating the Philadelphia Department of Labor, along with a Board of Labor Standards, to administer and enforce citywide labor laws and collective bargaining agreements. |
Election results
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Philadelphia Question 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
247,564 | 81.96% | ||
| No | 54,490 | 18.04% | ||
Overview
How was the Department of Labor designed?
The ballot measure created a Department of Labor for Philadelphia. A mayor-appointed Director of Labor headed the department. The Director of Labor's salary was the same as the Director of Commerce's salary, which was $179,867 in 2018.[2] The number of Department of Labor employees and their compensation was subject to the mayor's approval.
The Department of Labor was provided the power to perform the following functions:[3]
- representing the city government in collective bargaining matters with labor organizations representing city employees; administering collective bargaining agreements and arbitration awards; managing dispute resolution processes, including grievances, arbitrations, and unfair labor practices; developing and directing training programs for city managers and supervisors to promote effective labor relations;
- conducting investigations into matters related to the city's labor laws, such as mandatory leave rules, wage payment violations, and other laws designed to regulate the relationship between private employers and their employees;
- monitoring, investigating, and enforcing all aspects of city contracts and grants pertaining to employees of contractors, subcontractors, and recipients of assistance, such as prevailing wage, minimum wage, and workforce diversity standards;
- administering programs related to city employee protections, including investigation of complaints concerning workplace discrimination, and educating city managers and employees about employee protections;
- developing educational programs for private employers and employees to assist employers with compliance with labor laws; assisting employees with enforcement of their rights under the law; providing general education to heighten awareness regarding worker rights;
- collecting and analyzing data on the workplace; and coordinating with other city agencies and government to identify opportunities to improve working conditions for workers.
How was the Board of Labor Standards designed?
The ballot measure also created a seven-member Board of Labor Standards (BLS), which was provided the power to review the department's decisions and adjudicate issues brought before the department. The BLS would designed to include the following seven members:[3]
- one labor organization member from the building and construction field;
- one labor organization member from the service field or public sector;
- one employer from the building and construction field;
- one employer from the service field or public sector;
- two members of the public; and
- one city employee (who shall serve as chair).
The ballot measure required that membership represents the city's diversity, that members possess direct experience in matters considered by the board, and that at least one member be knowledgable of issues concerning workers who are not represented by labor organizations.[3]
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create a Department of Labor, headed by a Cabinet-level Director, to enforce City laws that protect Philadelphia workers; to oversee labor relations, such as collective bargaining, with the City’s unionized workforce; to investigate compliance with worker protections set forth in City contracts; and to manage programs concerning City employees; and to create a Board of Labor Standards to review and adjudicate matters arising from such work?[4] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Philadelphia City Council on February 13, 2020. Mayor James Kenney (D) signed the bill on February 26, 2020, which placed the charter amendment on the ballot.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Philadelphia City Council, "Bill 200008," accessed March 18, 2020
- ↑ Philadelphia.gov, "Employee Salaries & Overtime," accessed March 19, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Philadelphia City Council, "Resolution 200042-A," accessed March 19, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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