AGENDA:
ITEM:

05-05-15
2.3 (b)

CITY OF

SAN IPSE

Memorandum

CAPITAL OF SILICON VALLEY

TO:

SUBJECT:

HONORABLE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL

2.3 (b) RULES AND OPEN
GOVERNMENT REPORT

APPROVED:

FROM:

<

DATE:

May 4, 20

DATE:

05/04/15

RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that the City Council reconsider referring Rules Committee Item G.5 (b) to Priority
Setting and allow full Council discussion to move the item forward with G.5 (a) and (c).
BACKGROUND
On April 15, 2015 the Rules and Open Government Committee considered various options to
assist in addressing wage theft. As many of my Council colleagues understand, wage theft is a
widespread injustice here in San Jose. It occurs when workers are not paid what they are owed
for the work they perform. Residents throughout our City, some of whom we probably see
during the course of our day, have been victims of this crime. The courts have worked diligently
to award judgements to those that have been victims but unfortunately a UCLA study from 2011
found 83% of companies ruled against by the Labor Commission and courts never paid off their
judgments, meaning the workers never saw a penny of the back wages awarded to them. This is
disheartening to say the least. I believe the Council should explore every option on the table to
protect our residents and workforce. Item G.5 (b) on the April 15, 2015 Rules agenda is one of
those options that must move forward along with G.5 (a) & (c).
During that Rules Committee meeting, committee members expressed overwhelming support for
item G.5 (b). Committee members went as far to say that they would have "no problem
supporting this item" when brought to Priority Setting. If that is the true sentiment of the
members, then moving forward with this item now should not be an issue.