Boston Recycling Bidders Fight Plans For "Living Wage"

Date: June 13, 2002

Source: News Room

Mayor Thomas M. Menino wants to have recycling in Boston and wants city contractors to pay a "living wage," but now it appears that both together are unlikely. The three companies bidding for the city's recycling contract are refusing to comply with Boston's living wage ordinance, which requires that city contractors pay workers $10.25--an amount that will jump to $10.54 starting July 1--more than twice the federal minimum wage. The city says there are no other bidders, so it faces the choice between ending recycling when the existing contract expires on June 30 or issuing a waiver that would allow the companies to pay an estimated $3 less per hour in wages.

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