Issue: Affordability

Q As a council member, how will you help your employee constituents to exercise their rights under the earned sick time ordinance and help your employer constituents to come into compliance with its requirements?

Asked by

Q As a council member, how will you hold relevant city staff accountable to ensure successful enforcement of the earned sick time ordinance and the timely, just resolution of employees’ complaints?

Asked by

Q Do you support increasing the City of Austin living wage to $15 per hour by FY 2019 and ensuring future living wage rate increases are tied to a cost of living index?

Asked by Workers Defense Action Fund

Q Wage theft occurs when a worker is not paid for their work, not paid the wages promised, or not paid what they are owed under the law. In certain low-wage sectors, in particular, wage theft is too common, constraining the ability of workers to provide for themselves and their families. To ensure the responsible use of local taxpayer dollars, would you support policies to disqualify contractors who have violated local, state, or federal wage and hour laws from receiving city contracts?

Asked by Workers Defense Action Fund

Q The Better Builder ® Program creates good jobs in the construction industry by establishing minimum standards on construction sites. These standards include a living wage for all construction workers, OSHA 10-hour safety training for all workers, workers’ compensation coverage, local hiring goals to place workers in approved skills training programs, and accredited, independent on-site monitoring to ensure these standards are met. As a city council member, will you support incorporating these standards onto projects where the city has both a substantial role and the ability to require higher worker protections, including (but not limited to) ground leases, Public Improvement Districts, density bonus programs, tax increment financing, abatements, and other city development programs designed for the utilization of private developers?

Asked by Workers Defense Action Fund

Q How do you plan on prioritizing city employees during the budget process?

Asked by Austin Labor Council

Q The possibility of an ATCEMS/AFD merger has been an ongoing topic of discussion. Historically mergers involving EMS and Fire departments have been problematic because they take place under duress. With a successful legislative change and municipal voter support ATCEMS medics are now included in civil service 143 for public safety. EMS is becoming more innovative and integrated with healthcare and public health though an ongoing series of open meetings with the stakeholders. Many of these discussions are directed by City Council members or by the various appointed commission’s of council and we encourage open public discussions on the future of Austin’s public health model. However, would you agree the potential of an EMS/AFD merger should be inclusive of both labor organizations and the only place to come to terms in matters regarding the workforce is though contract negotiations?

Asked by Austin Firefighter Association

Q Do you support maintaining affordable utility costs for Austin Energy and Austin Water that adhere strictly to the City Council established affordability goals, which require Austin Energy rates to be in the bottom half of Texas ratepayers and minimizes increases to two percent per year for each rate class?

Asked by Austin Ahead

Q Austin Energy transfers 12% of non-fuel operating revenues to the General Fund transfers which increases utility bill costs, making Austin utilities less affordable than some utilities in surrounding cities. What are your thoughts on reducing or eliminating the General Fund transfers from Austin Energy to the City of Austin? Please explain your answer.

Asked by Austin Ahead

Q With your knowledge of Austin Energy, do you believe that the City should retain control of Austin Energy or should Austin Energy be sold to a private operator or be operated as an independent enterprise? Please explain your answer.

Asked by Austin Ahead