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Our Community Should Take the High Road
Our community has watched the hospitality industry become central to
the New Orleans economy. We've seen how over the past two decades, millions
of dollars of taxpayer subsidies have helped create an infrastructure
that puts our city at the top of conventioneers' lists. We've waited
for this profitable industry to help raise the standard of living across
the city. We're concerned that without a push, this rise will never
come.
Across America, civic leaders, clergy and citizens in other cities are
shining a spotlight on employers' behavior. Communities are insisting
that employers contribute to a local economy that provides decent living
standards, improves working conditions and doesn't tolerate discrimination.
They are demanding a return on taxpayer investments and simply asking
employers to be good neighbors.
In Boston, Oakland, Portland and other cities, communities are winning
living wage ordinances covering city-funded economic development projects.
In San Francisco, New Haven and Sacramento, citizens have fought to
require that projects receiving economic benefits from city governments
must respect employees' free choice on the question of unionization.
Through these communities' efforts, many service workers in these cities
now can afford to support their families and can find opportunities
in what were once dead-end jobs.
Here in New Orleans, hundreds of religious leaders, elected leaders
and community members have joined forces with HOTROC (Hospitality, Hotels
& Restaurants Organizing Council)* to help workers have a say in
raising their living standards. Workers' right to a living wage, equal
opportunity at work, job training, affordable health insurance and a
right to form a union free from coercion are central to our concern.
The community is writing letters to support the workers, signing petitions,
calling special meetings, speaking out in news conferences and reaching
out to other concerned citizens.
Addional Information here>>
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