The call for $15 as a minimum wage for city of San Antonio employees is being renewed again as the city nears a vote on its annual budget next week.
Leaders with COPS / Metro Alliance, like Sister Gabriella Lohan took to the steps of city hall Friday asking city council members to continue increases in city employee wages to a $15 minimum. “We know that people need to be respected and nothing shows more respect that a decent wage,” she said.
Last year, the City of San Antonio increased the starting minimum wage to $13 per hour for its employees. District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg says he supports finding a path to $15. “The wage discussion doesn’t end in a single year, unfortunately it can’t take a single year, but we do need to set a strategic path to get us wages that are livable for San Antonio workers.”
On Wednesday during a budget work session, city staff members analyzed cost impacts of phasing into $15 per hour. If put into effect starting next year it would cost a little over $5 million per year.
Councilmembers Rey Saldana and Rebecca Viagran agreed with trying to implement $14 per hour in the upcoming budget. In a statement, City Human Resources director Lori Steward said. “Following City Council direction, we are developing several scenarios to increase our entry wage to $15 per hour over a reasonable period of time for Council consideration.”
City Council will vote on the 2017 budget on Thursday.
