Fair Workweek legislation

Guests: Helen Gym, Earlene Bly, Mark Price, Melissa Bova

Hourly workers in the hotel, retail and fast-food industries cope with unpredictable schedules. They often get little notice about the hours and days they will be working. This makes budgeting, balancing school or a second job, and caring for a family challenging. The Fair Workweek bill before Philadelphia’s City Council would require employers to give workers their schedule two weeks in advance, compensate them for last minute changes, and provide them opportunities to work more hours.  With the vote on the bill planned for the end of November, we thought we’d discuss the Fair Workweek legislation, how inconsistent hours impact employees, what it would mean for business owners, and look more broadly at the state of low-wage workers in the city.  Our guests include HELEN GYM, Philadelphia City Councilwoman, EARLENE BLY, hotel housekeeper and labor organizer, MARK PRICE, Keystone Research Center labor economist, and MELISSA BOVA, vice-president for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association.