May 9, 2017
Today, renters in San Jose won another big fight for basic, fair protections. The San Jose City Council voted to adopt a just cause ordinance and, under an “urgency ordinance,” voted to enact the law immediately, blocking a potential flood of last minute no-cause evictions. The just cause ordinance, which passed by an 8 to 3 vote, prohibits landlords from…
May 8, 2017
County of Santa Clara Report & direction on labor trafficking recommendations The Commission will receive a report from the Labor Trafficking Working Group, with a series of recommendations for improving the County’s ability to prevent, investigate, and prosecute labor trafficking. Recommendations include adding a District Attorney Investigator and Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant position, improving trainings (including training union members), and…
Apr 19, 2017
Today, in a historic move, the San Jose City Council voted 6-5 to increase renter protections. This critical and hard-fought victory for the City’s tenants is the largest progressive win at San Jose City Hall in decades. The renter protection policies were supported by Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco and Council Members Sergio Jimenez, Sylvia Arenas, Raul Peralez, Don Rocha and…
Apr 13, 2017
Yesterday, a new research report released by Working Partnerships USA, Cashing In on Renters, found that a family in Silicon Valley now needs to earn $113,040 to afford the average two-bedroom apartment, and that the number of “no cause” evictions has increased by 270 percent in the past five years. In addition, it reveals that large, non-San Jose based landlords…
Apr 7, 2017
Earlier this week, the City of Santa Clara moved one step closer to reaching a $15 minimum wage by 2019. Led by Vice Mayor Dominic Caserta, the City Council voted unanimously to spend 90 days conducting outreach to help determine its schedule of increases. The message from the people in the packed Council Chambers was clear: to reach $15 by…
Apr 1, 2017
After extensive research and branding analysis, the South Bay Labor Council announced today that it now will be known simply as “The People.” The organization, which represents 100 unions in Silicon Valley, decided to change its name after polling and focus groups demonstrated that residents of the South Bay strongly identify with the idea of being people. In addition, the…
Mar 31, 2017
On Cesar Chavez Day we remember another key Labor Movement leader who passed away earlier this week, former SEIU USWW President Mike Garcia. Garcia was an unwavering advocate for working families, dedicating his life to improving working conditions, increasing wages, and empowering those who were most vulnerable, especially immigrant workers. He championed the Justice for Janitors movement, leading a historic strike…
Feb 13, 2017
Santa Clara County Report on ordinance to prevent discrimination against renters with Section 8 vouchers At the February 7, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, the County Counsel presented a recommended ordinance to ensure that all persons with the ability to pay for housing, whether through their own funds or using a subsidy such as Section 8, are considered for housing.…
Feb 7, 2017
Tonight, the Milpitas City Council voted 4 to 0 to raise its minimum wage to $15 by 2019, three years sooner than mandated by the State of California. Workers in the City will see their first raise in July of this year. Voting in support of $15 by 2019 were Council Members Marsha Grilli, Anthony Phan, Bob Nuñez and Mayor Rich Tran.…
Feb 1, 2017
Yesterday, the San Jose City Council voted on a critical change to the banking component of the City’s rent control law. The original ordinance, passed by the previous Council, allowed landlords who did not raise the rent in a given year to save or “bank” the unused rent increase and apply it at a future date. With a vote of…