October 23, 2000

 

MINUTES of PUBLIC MEETING

OF THE

INDUSTRIAL WELFARE COMMISSION

August 17, 2000

Sacramento

 

In accordance with the "Eight Hour-Day Restoration and Workplace Flexibility Act of 1999," commonly known as AB 60, as well as Labor Code §§ 1173, 1178, and 1178.5, the Industrial Welfare Commission ("IWC") held a public meeting on June 30, 2000, in Sacramento, at the State Capitol, Room 4202, to consider wage board reports and to prepare proposed regulations for consideration and comment at future public hearings.

 

Chairman Bill Dombrowski opened the hearing at 10:07 a.m. Commissioners Barry Broad, Leslee Coleman, Doug Bosco, and Harold Rose were present. The IWC's staff, including, Executive Officer Andrew Baron, Principal Analyst Michael Moreno, Analyst Nikki Verrett, as well as the IWC's legal counsel, Deputy Attorney General Marguerite Stricklin, were also present.

Commissioner Broad moved to approve the minutes from the June 30th hearing. Commissioner Rose seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Commissioner Broad proposed consideration of the Wage Board reports and recommendations in Item #2 of the Agenda. Commissioner Broad offered a motion that the IWC propose regulations for public comment encompassing the recommendations approved by the on-site industries wage board that were adopted by at least a two-thirds vote. Commissioner Broad further moved that the IWC adopt language from the following sections of current the Wage Orders where the on-site wage board did not make any recommendations: Licensed Handicapped Workers, Cash Shortage and Breakage, Seats, Temperature, Elevators, Exemptions, Filing Reports, Inspection, and Penalties. In addition, Commissioner Broad stated that the term "Handicapped" was outdated as well as offensive and moved that the IWC consider changing "Licensed Handicapped Workers" to "Licensed Disable Workers." Commissioner Rose provided a second for the motions, and they passed unanimously.

 

With regard to Item #3 on the Agenda, Commissioner Bosco offered a motion that the IWC propose regulations to increase the minimum wage in California by 50 cents for each of the next two years, such that on and after January 1, 2001, the minimum wage shall be no less than $6.25 per hour, and on and after January 1, 2002, the minimum wage shall be no less than $6.75 per hour, and that the proposed regulations also proportionately increase the meals and lodging credits. Commissioner Broad seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The following individuals presented testimony:

"On-Site Construction, Drilling, Logging, and Mining"

SCOTT WETCH, State Building and Construction

TOM RANKIN, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

PAUL COHEN, Northern California Carpenters

KEN PERRY, Construction industry

DAVE LEFLER, Western Drilling

PATRICIA GATES, Van Bourg, Weinberg, Roger and Rosenfeld

LARRY ROHLFES, California Landscape Contractors

Minimum Wage

TOM RANKIN, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

JEAN ROSS, Executive Director, California Budget Project

MICHAEL REICH, Professor, University of California, Berkeley

BILL POWERS, California Congress of Seniors

DAVID POLLARD, California Catholic Conference, California Council of Churches, Lutheran Public Policy Office

NICK DELTE, Californians for Justice

CHARLIE THOMAS, Associations of Communities Organized for Reform Now (ACORN)

MIKE HERALD, Housing California

LOURDES MONTILLO, home supportive services

ROSALINA GARCIA, Janitors for Justice

ELIZABETH GUILLEN, Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

CHRIS SCHNEIDER, Central California Legal Services

JULIANNE BROYLES, California Chamber of Commerce

JON ROSS, California Restaurant Association

CYNTHIA CORY, California Farm Bureau

GEORGE SOARES, Western Range Association

KRISTIN POWER, Agricultural Council of California

DEIRDRE FLYNN, California Wool Growers Association

SARA NICHOLS, Neighbor to Neighbor

BETTY PERRY, Public Policy Director, Older Women's League of California

PATRICIA GATES, Van Bourg, Weinberg, Roger and Rosenfeld

JENNIFER KAGIWADA, Center for the Childcare Workforce

THO DO, Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union

JIM DUVAL, Local 1877, backstretch racetrack employees

MARK SCHACHT, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation

JENYA CASSIDY, Working Family Coalition

MIKE WEBB, Western Growers Association

After the IWC determined that no one present wished to give further testimony, it was agreed by common consent to adjourn the public meeting at 1:05 p.m. Commissioner Bosco moved to adjourn. Commissioner Broad seconded. Motion was unanimously passed.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

________________________

Andrew R. Baron

Executive Officer

Approved:

 

____________________________________

Bill Dombrowski, Chairperson