Wage theft, a prevalent crime in California, disproportionately affects low-wage workers, immigrants, women, and people of color. Shockingly, it receives little news coverage, and law enforcement doesn't actively pursue wage thieves. Perpetrators face no consequences while victims may suffer eviction, debt, and loss of healthcare, struggling to make ends meet.

The Responsible Construction Ordinance holds wage theft perpetrators accountable for unpaid wages where the State has already found them guilty and ordered them to repay what they stole. It ensures workers get paid and promotes fairness and competition among responsible contractors.

As San José focuses on Downtown revitalization, we must aspire to build a city with an empowered workforce and collaborators who share our values of fair pay, racial justice and immigrant rights. The Responsible Construction Ordinance supports contractors with fair labor practices, true partners in building a city reflecting our collective vision.

Wage theft hurts local communities and small businesses. Recognizing this, several Silicon Valley cities, including Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Milpitas, have enacted Responsible Construction Ordinances. Now, San José has the opportunity to pass a law effectively addressing this issue.

Fortunately, Councilmembers Davis, Jimenez, Torres, Ortiz, and Foley have worked with business and labor communities to come up with a compromise that addresses concerns while ensuring that workers still have a robust tool to hold perpetrators of wage theft accountable.

Your voice can make a difference: we need to let City Council members know our commitment to the well-being of ALL working people. Join us in advocating for a city built by an empowered workforce!