Disclaimer: The comments in this blog are my personal opinion and may or may not reflect an adopted position of the city of Glendale and its city council.
In previous blogs the Worker Power Super PAC was explained and the types of venues that could be covered by this proposed initiative. Some aspects of this proposed initiative are vague and leave room for expensive interpretation, probably by a judge at some point, if it passes.
What is the minimum wage proposed? The initiative says, “Beginning thirty days (30) after the effective date of this ordinance, a hotel employer or an event center employer shall pay its hotel workers or event center workers, as applicable, a wage of no less than $20 per hour, not including tips, gratuities, service charge distributions, and bonuses.” There is more, “Beginning January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the minimum wage will increase annually to reflect increases in the cost of living. The cost-of-living increase shall be the greater of (1) three percent (3%) or (2) the percentage increase as of September 30, 2024, and as of September 30 in any subsequent year for further annual adjustments, over the level as of September 30 of the preceding year.”
In English, that sets the minimum wage for hospitality workers at $20 per hour with a cost of living increase every year. That $20 an hour does not include tips, gratuities, service charge distributions or bonuses. Currently, Arizona’s statewide minimum wage is $14.35 per hour. In January 2025, it will become $14.70 per hour. This initiative requires $5.30 per hour more than the minimum wage of any other Arizona city.
Wait, there’s more. If a hotel has less than 60 rooms, the room attendant who cleans more than 4,000 square feet in an 8-hour day gets a double pay rate of $40 an hour for the entire 8 plus hours. For example, the worker who cleans 3,999 square feet in an 8-hour day gets $160 ($20/hour). But if the worker cleans 4,100 square feet in 9 hours, that worker gets $360 for a 9-hour day ($40/hour). If a hotel is larger than 60 rooms (and nearly everyone is) anything over 3,500 square feet in an 8-hour day gets double pay.
All service charges are split between the event center and the hospitality worker but there is no specific proportion as to who gets what.
This proposed ordinance applies only to hospitality workers, not managerial, supervisory staff, bartenders, bellhops, valets, custodians, etc. It doesn’t apply to maintenance staff. You know, the people that keep the lights on, the A/C working and the plumbing from backing up…just hospitality workers. Is that fair? I think not.
In the next blog we will learn what requirements are imposed on Glendale if this initiative passes.
© Joyce Clark, 2024
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Before there is an explanation of the Worker Power initiative, let’s find out more about this Super PAC. 
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D), and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D). It also claims through its efforts, it was responsible for radical Democrat Raphael Warnock’s win against Herschel Walker for a Georgia Congressional Senate seat.
Locally, Worker Power endorsed radical activist Democrat Lupe Conchas in his successful bid to become the next Cactus district councilmember in Glendale. You can be sure that Conchas has greater ambitions than that of a councilmember in Glendale. After all, failed Glendale mayoral candidate Jamie Aldama on his Facebook page congratulated Conchas on his win and referred to him as the next US Senator Ruben Gallego.