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On Day Starbucks Conducts Racial Bias Training, Miami International Airport Employees Fight For $5/Hour Minimum Wage Hike


As many readers are likely aware, yesterday, Starbucks closed approximately 8,000 of its stores in the afternoon to conduct racial bias training for its employees.  Coinciding with this training was an impromptu press conference in Miami held by Unite Here, in which minority employees at a Starbucks at Miami International Airport demanded a $5/hour minimum wage hike.  A Unite Here spokeswoman, Rachel Gumpert, implored the company to raise wages for its employees to prove its commitment to racial justice.  (The Starbucks workforce is approximately 43% minority).

Now bear in mind that the Miami-Dade County Commission passed an ordinance on May 15th by a 7 - 5 vote that would require wage hikes for all businesses that rent space from the county. (This would include retail space at Miami International).  Under this ordinance, this mandatory minimum wage hike would only apply once an employer’s current lease expired.  That wage hike would amount to a cost of living increase which would see workers earning about $13 - $15/hour.  (The current hourly minimum wage rate in the state is $8.25/hour, with many workers at the Starbucks at Miami International thought to start at approximately $8.50/hour).  However, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez subsequently vetoed the ordinance on May 23rd on the grounds that it would put employers in the county at a competitive disadvantage and would hinder attempts to have for-profit companies rent space from the county.

At the press conference, Unite Here pointed to Broward County (which encompasses the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport) which has approved a cost of living increase to wages for workers.  Unite Here suggested that in essence, it was inequitable for workers at the Starbucks at Miami International to earn ‘significantly’ less than workers at the Starbucks at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International, given that the workers at each location did the same thing (and were separated by only 30 miles).

With that being said, for now, the Mayor’s veto stands.  To override it, the Miami-Dade County Commission will need 8 votes...which means they need to find one more vote after originally  approving the ordinance with a 7 - 5 vote.  Interesting to see how this plays out.


For additional information:  http://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article212119179.html

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