Philly lawmakers want to make it harder for employers to retaliate against their workers | City Council roundup
The legislation comes amid long-standing concerns from activists and organized labor leaders who say the city’s Department of Labor doesn’t have the resources or authority to effectively enforce Philadelphia’s relatively strong worker protection laws.
Philadelphia lawmakers will consider implementing new regulations aimed at protecting workers from retaliation and bolstering the city’s ability to enforce existing labor laws.
The legislation, introduced in Council Thursday and authored by Councilmember Kendra Brooks of the progressive Working Families Party, comes amid long-standing concerns from activists and organized labor leaders who say the city’s Department of Labor doesn’t have the resources or authority to effectively enforce Philadelphia’s relatively strong worker-protection laws.
Brooks’ bill would add and make adjustments to a series of provisions, including granting the city the ability to revoke the licenses of employers found to have violated worker-protection laws and publish online a database of “bad actors.”
Also on Thursday, Council held a moment of silence for the victims of the deadly plane crash last Friday in Northeast Philadelphia and led an Eagles pep rally ahead of Sunday’s big game.
What was this week’s highlight?
Giving the Department of Labor some teeth: Over the last decade, Philadelphia has bolstered its laws aimed at protecting workers, including by implementing a ban on wage theft and requiring that employers provide paid sick time.
But advocates say the city doesn’t have adequate authority to enforce those laws or to support workers who face retaliation for reporting violations. Brooks’ legislation aims to address both points. The bills make dozens of changes to the city code, including:
Making it illegal for employers to retaliate against workers for exercising rights protected by the city’s existing laws.
Requiring employers retain records on paid sick leave for at least three years and allowing the city’s Office of Worker Protection to view those records.
Giving the city authority to revoke licenses and city contracts from employers found to have violated worker-protection laws.
Granting workers the ability to claim damages from those employers. The legislation says workers who claim wage theft are entitled to receive compensation equal to the unpaid wages or $500, whichever is greater.
Establishing a city-operated “Worker Justice Fund,” financed by the proceeds of fines, that would support employees who are victims of employer retaliation.
Giving City Council authority to publicize a “bad actors database” of employers that repeatedly violate the city’s protection laws.
Brooks’ office said the legislation has 12 cosponsors, representing a majority of Council. It will be referred to a committee, and a hearing will be held before it can be voted on by the full body. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.
A contingent of supporters rallied around Brooks in Council Thursday, including dozens of members of the Philly Black Worker Project and the National Domestic Workers Alliance, which represents nannies, caregivers, and housekeepers.
Brooks said the legislation is especially timely given that President Donald Trump’s administration may be eyeing a downsizing initiative in the federal Department of Labor.
“Under Trump’s anti-worker, anti-immigrant agenda, these domestic workers face even greater risk of retaliation and abuse by employers,” Brooks said. “Our city will not sit back and do nothing.”
What else happened this week?
Remembering the crash victims in Northeast Philadelphia: Council members held a moment of silence in remembrance of the seven people who died in Northeast Philadelphia Friday when a medical transport plane crashed into Cottman Avenue. Two dozen others were injured.
City Councilmember Mike Driscoll, who represents the area where the plane went down and was on the scene the night of the crash, gave an emotional speech in Council Thursday, thanking first responders whom he said “immediately rushed into the chaos.” He said the scope of the devastation was “unimaginable.”
“I truly believe, having witnessed it firsthand, that the number of injuries and fatalities were kept down,” Driscoll said. “It could have been a lot worse.”
An Eagles pep rally of sorts: The ornate Council chambers were adorned in green and white balloons and signs, and nearly every member was decked out in Birds gear — including Council President Kenyatta Johnson, who presided over the meeting in a Jalen Hurts jersey.
An informal poll of members suggests one elected official stands out as Council’s biggest Birds fan: Democratic Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, who wore an Eagles flag as a cape Thursday and whose purse was stuffed with rally towels.
“You’re talking about a lifelong Eagles fan,” she said, adding of the team: “We’re gonna shut down the haters and the naysayers.”
More controversial was the fact that one member is a Chiefs fan: Councilmember Jim Harrity, who represents the city at-large and said he roots for Kansas City because of a long-standing relationship with the owner of Big Charlie’s Saloon, a Chiefs fan bar in South Philly. (The bar will be closed for the big game on Sunday.)
Several members called out Harrity for his dual loyalties. Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. went so far as to call it impeachable conduct. But Harrity said his fandom isn’t that deep, and that he is just “rooting for a good game.”
Then, he added: “So I don’t have to hear you guys cry too much on Monday.”
Quote of the week
If you are uncomfortable with someone speaking a language you don’t understand, suck it up.
That was Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, the chamber’s only Latina member, who responded to a public commenter who spoke negatively about immigrants during Thursday’s meeting. The man complained that Spanish-speaking residents were given more time to register their comments because interpreters translated their statements after they delivered them.
“Hate has no place in the city,” Lozada said, “and hate certainly has no place in here.”