UNITE HERE LOCAL 217

294 West Exchange St * Providence, RI 02903 * 528-1177 * 528-1177 fax

June 9, 2014 Contact: Andrew Tillett-Saks
414-507-3739 cell

RHODE ISLAND DEMOCRATIC HOUSE LEADERSHIP PROPOSE SURPRISE
MEASURES TO OUTLAW MINIMUM WAGE RAISES HUNDREDS TO ATTEND
SCHEDULED PRESS CONFERENCE

The Rhode Island House of Representatives has introduced a bill that would outlaw
cities ability to establish municipal minimum wages. Hundreds of concerned
citizens, including municipal leaders, will hold a press conference and rally at the RI
Statehouse on Tuesday, June10th at 5:30pm to object to the extraordinary proposal .

In a quiet, late-session maneuver, the Democratic leadership of the Rhode Island
House of Representatives has included this provision in the proposed state 2015
budget. In addition, a last-minute bill has been introduced to achieve the same goal.
These moves are seen as a response to a high-profile campaign to raise the
minimum wage of hotel workers in Providence to $15-an-hour by municipal
ordinance.

State preemptions of municipal rights are rare in Rhode Island history. In the last
thirty years, the state has only taken this type of action six times. The legislatures
rush to preempt municipalities ability to set minimum wage standards has caused
alarm among citizens and municipal leaders.

Said Providence City Councilwoman Carmen Castillo, This proposal is an attack on
all RI cities and towns. It would strip us of our power to represent our
communities. What power will they try to take from us next? The right to decide if
we should have a casino in our town? The right to set our own budgets?

The hushed, last-hour manner of proposing the law has also stirred outrage
amongst advocates of government transparency. Said Cranston, RI, City Councilman
Steven Stycos, Cranston City Councilman Steven Stycos agreed, "Rhode Island has a
proud tradition of home rule for cities and towns. Municipalities make decisions on
school funding, building permit fees and property taxes. The legislature should not
take away our right to raise the minimum wage without a hearing or public debate."

The proposed legislation could represent a significant shift in national momentum,
coming just after the city of Seattle passed a much-celebrated $15 minimum wage
and as the Democratic Party elsewhere rallies around raising the minimum wage.
Municipal minimum wage preemption legislation is not unprecedented nationwide,
but similar legislation in other states has been pushed exclusively by Republican-
UNITE HERE LOCAL 217
294 West Exchange St * Providence, RI 02903 * 528-1177 * 528-1177 fax




dominated state governmentsunlike the Democratic Rhode Island General
Assembly.

Jack Temple, Policy Analyst with the National Law Project Action Fund expressed
serious concern about the cavalier way the legislature is considering a preemptive
action. This extreme action is far out of step with whats going on around the
country. The public is demanding a solution to the crisis of inequality. Rhode Island
Democrats should be supporting workers and local leaders who are taking action to
boost wages, not handcuffing them to protect corporate interests.

The legislation is widely considered a response to a proposed ordinance in the
Providence City Council to raise the minimum wage for Providence hotel workers to
$15.00. Support for the ordinance is overwhelming in the city. Workers and activists
collected over 1,000 signatures in support from Providence voters and a recent poll
by Dapa research found 64% support amongst voters. Said Santa Brito, a
housekeeper at the Renaissance Hotel Providence, We are hard working mothers
and the backbone of the Providence tourism industry, fighting to send our kids from
Head Start to Harvard. Sixty-four percent of Providence voters believe we should
make $15 per hour, just about $1.85 more per room we clean. This week we started
collecting the final round of signatures to put the $15 hotel worker minimum wage
on the ballot. Providence voters are welcoming us at their doorsteps. Now, House
leadership is moving to jail us in poverty. What does this mean for the future of our
kids?

City officials, labor organizations, and concerned citizens will gather at the
Statehouse Tuesday, June 10th at 5:30 to protest this proposal ahead of the House of
Representatives budget vote next Thursday.