The Living Wage Coalition of Longmont is a group of organizations and individuals in Longmont and elsewhere in Boulder County, Colorado, working to secure a living wage for City of Longmont employees. The LWV of Boulder County is proud to be a leading member of the Coalition.
On September 17, 2019, the Longmont City Council voted unanimously to pay a living wage of at least $17.42 per hour to full-time staff and full-time City contract employees, and to add language to City contracts to specify the living wage requirement. Read more here.
We believe that this decision will allow the estimated effects to be incorporated into the City's 2020 budget.
The coalition's goal from the beginning was to ensure that by 2020, the City of Longmont would pay all individuals who are employed by companies with city contracts a minimum hourly wage of $17.42, based on the Self-Sufficiency Standard.
The Coalition also proposed that employees such as city custodial and landscape staff be provided a living wage, and that contract employees working without benefits will receive a percentage wage increase in lieu of benefits. These employees will also receive regularly scheduled wage increases based upon an established index.
Longmont would implement this living wage goal by:
• reclaiming custodial and landscape staff as city employees;
• inserting a labor practices clause into all city contracts; or
• establishing a city ordinance.
Some concerns remain after the City Council adoption of $17.42 per hour:
• Contractors might avoid paying a living wage by hiring people for less than full time,
even just an hour or two less per week.
• What will be the City's contract language?
• When will the living wage be in effect?
Help support a living wage for Longmont city contract workers!
• Sign on as a coalition supporter by emailing teams@lwvbc.org
• Write to Longmont City Council members, asking them to support a living wage for city
employees.
• Speak in person to the Longmont City Council at their biweekly meetings. Council
meetings are held at 7 p.m. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, at
council chambers. Speakers must arrive at 6:45 to sign in, and are allowed 3
minutes to address council members.
• Share this webpage with friends and neighbors to spread the word.
For more background on the living wage issue:
• Living Wage: A Thank You from LWVBC, published 9/18 and 9/21/2019
• LWVBC Statement: Living Wage in Longmont: A Call to Action
• Statement from Coalition for Longmont Living Wage
• Daily Camera Op-Ed "We've measured the living wage. The data is disturbing"
• Living wage discussion on KGNU-FM Community radio
• LWVBC Program Position on Minimum / LivingWages
• Statements from Coalition members to Longmont City Council
For more information on the Living Wage Coalition contact Co-Chairs Pat
Long and Mary Ann Wilner at teams@lwvbc.org or 303-499-4544.
Coalition Members (as of April 2019)
Organizations
League of Women Voters of Boulder County (read our position here)
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Longmont
The Inn Between
Heart of Longmont United Methodist Church
Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County
Boulder Area Labor Council of the AFL / CIO
AFL / CIO
United Food and Commercial Works, Local 7
Individuals
Peggy Leech
Mary Ann Wilner
Pat Long
Ruth Stemler
Jim Lovett
Mary Ann Watson
Darcy Juday
Tambre Rasmussen
Don Grant
Kay Palmer Marsh
Deborah Hayes
Rev. David Burt, Pastor, Heart of Longmont UMC
Jan Buchanan
Sharon K. Yonkees
Louisa Matthias
Rionda Osman
Shirly White
Beverly Springer
Diana Haskell
Gaythia Weis
Lynne Wegley
Keith E. Watson
Jake Marsing
Lee Shanis
Dave Stemler
Brian Long
Diane Roggow
Diane Burkepile
Anna Evenson
Molly Hardman
Jose Beteta
Louisa Young
Laurel Herndon
Tara Scott
Carolyn Phillips
Sylvie Pennaforte
Shari Malloy
Belen Pargas Solis
Maria Gordillo Villa
Judy
Kathy Partridge
Carol Cook
Kathy Hall
Linda Davies (AAUW Longmont)
Nancy Andersson
Anne Bryan
Maryann Brown Sperry
Roxanne Bailin
John and Amy Thornbury
Julie Dadone
Rev. Steven D. Reinhard, Lead Pastor, Longs Peak United Methodist Church
Faith Halverson-Ramos
Bonnie Van Deursen
Marty Allisaon
Ray Allison
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