GLENDALE, Ariz. — A plan to raise the minimum wage for some hospitality workers in Glendale will go to voters this November.
The group behind this plan, Worker Power, said it believes Glendale is getting a lot of business with popular concerts, and there are additional large hotels under construction. The social welfare organization also said it wants to make sure some of the staff who are working in the larger venues get their fair share.
If this plan is approved, staff who work in the larger hospitality venues would get a bump to $20 per hour.
Proposition 499 would increase the minimum wage for hotel and event center workers by $5.65, to $20 per hour, and up to $40 an hour per shift. The state minimum wage in Arizona is $14.35.
Worker Power said Prop. 499 would only apply to event centers, arenas, stadiums and large hotels and wouldn’t apply to smaller businesses that couldn’t absorb the cost.
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But the plan is drawing criticism as well.
Prop 499 also calls for the city of Glendale to fund a Department of Labor Standards department.
The city said the plan doesn't specify where the money for the department — which it estimates will cost close to $1 million a year to operate and comply with the new rules — will come from.
The city said that could result in tax increases to city residents or cuts in city programs.
There's also the concern these businesses will pass the expense on to the consumer.
Worker Power said it doesn't believe that would happen because they say businesses are already charging the maximum market rate.
Here are a few other ways Prop. 499 would impact Glendale:
If passed, Prop. 499 would establish wage and working condition laws to be enforced by the city of Glendale, including:
- Workers cannot work for more than 10 hours a day without written permission
- All service charges and tips must be paid to the employee associated with the room or service
- Employers cannot offset an employee's wages by the tip or service charges they receive.
The newly created Department of Labor Standards would also implement provisions to:
- Receive complaints
- Initiate investigations of employers
- Initiate enforcement actions
- Conduct periodic studies of low-wage workers
The initiative also states that the provisions listed may be waived if an employer enters into a "bona fide collective bargaining agreement" with a worker's union.
Here are the businesses listed that could be impacted by Prop. 499:
- Andretti Indoor Karting and Games
- Arizona Christian University Hangar
- Arrowhead Country Club
- Chicken and Pickle
- Deer Valley High School Auditorium
- Desert Diamond Arena
- Glendale Civic Center
- Glendale Youth Sports Complex
- High School Football Stadiums
- Mattel Adventure Park
- Midwestern University Auditorium
- Mountain Ridge High Auditorium
- Paseo Racquet Center
- Renaissance Convention Center
- Sahuaro Ranch Park
- State Farm Stadium
- The Great Lawn and accompanying buildings
- Top Golf
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