Author Archives : The Left Hook

Chavez and Cortese Fight for Gender Pay Equity


Despite the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the fight for gender pay equity is far from over. Currently, full-time working women make an average of 77 cents on the dollar when compared to their male counterparts. Sadly, the gender pay gap is worse for minorities, with African American women earning 64 cents and Latinas earning 56 cents for every dollar…

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Santa Clara County Supervisors Chavez and Cortese request a gender pay equity ordinance to apply to County contracts  Supervisors Chavez and Cortese are directing the County Executive and County Counsel to research and prepare a draft on a gender pay equity ordinance with applicability to county contracts and county employees to be considered at the Finance and Government Operations Committee…

Santa Clara Boasts Highest Wage in the County


One of the hottest topics sweeping the Silicon Valley is the desperate need to raise the minimum wage.  We have seen a trend of local cities taking the issue head-on, especially as they see more of their community members working for wages that keep them below the poverty line. What started as one daring city, San José, taking the lead…

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City of San Jose  Minimum Wage Study Mayor Liccardo, Councilmember Jones and Councilmember Manh Nguyen have released a memo proposing to study an increase in San Jose’s minimum wage and possible exceptions to San Jose’s minimum wage requirements that would favor business. Where: San Jose Rules Committee When: August 19, 2015 at 2 pm Link to item: http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?meta_id=528165 Link to…

SVEF Gets Congressional Chief Education Advisor


After 14 years as Congressman Honda’s District Director, Meri Maben, a longtime leader in local politics, is joining the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF). As a former teacher and program director for at-risk youth, Meri will, no doubt, be instrumental in supporting SVEF’s mission and improving our public education system. During her tenure with Representative Honda, Meri exemplified what it…

County Demonstrates Leadership in Establishing Employment Standards


Today, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors showed its renewed commitment to setting high job standards by extending the Living Wage Ordinance to officially include its employees. The board voted 4-0-1, with Supervisor Wasserman supporting the measure  and Supervisor Simitian abstaining. The County’s actions demonstrate that fair compensation, paid sick-leave and a fair work week are among the top…

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Santa Clara County Extending Comprehensive Living Wage Coverage to the County Workforce At the December 9th, 2014 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the Board directed Administration and County Counsel to “draft a Board Policy Resolution that expresses the Board’s intent to assure County employees…have a standard of compensation consistent with standards outlined in the Living Wage Policy.” The resolution being…

South Bay Labor Council Welcomes New Communications Director


The South Bay Labor Council (SBLC) is proud to announce that Dianna Zamora-Marroquin has joined their team as the new Communications Director. Zamora-Marroquin, a seasoned communications professional who brings years of experience in developing insightful and effective communications strategies, will be instrumental in the continued growth and success of the Labor Council. Zamora-Marroquin has enjoyed a successful career, holding positions…

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Valley Transportation Authority Request for Proposal for joint public-private development at Cerone parcel The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Carone parcel in North San Jose, locaed on Zanker Road and 237 in North San Jose. The RFP will offer the right to enter into exclusion negotiations with VTA for the development…