Wiley describes hotel workers' housing and wage challenges
Wiley says surveys before contract negotiations showed many hotel workers spent more than half their income on housing and struggled with everyday expenses. She says the World Cup money should stay with workers and the city, not disappear after the final kickoff.
Thank you.
I think for one, communication between electeds like yourself and people who represented our members was really important.
You know, it wasn't something we took lightly, and I think our members really wanted to be on the front lines and were excited.
They loved getting to participate in the World Cup and just being able to know that they had the wages to actually afford to.
To live in the city that they were helping welcome people to.
We did a lot of surveys prior to these contract negotiations.
50% were spending more than half of their monthly income on housing.
Almost a third had fallen behind on their rent or mortgage payments.
38% struggled to afford everyday expenses.
And also 40% of members polled didn't have enough to save to cover a $400 expense.
You know, especially during a time where there was billions of dollars on the line coming to the city, we felt, along with many other groups and electeds like yourselves, that this money shouldn't just disappear when the last kickoff happens.
I'm bad at sports metaphors because I don't know sports well, but I'm pretty sure that makes sense.
You seem to be doing a good job to me.
Thank you.
But, you know, it was really crucial that, like, the money not only stayed in the city, as you guys are mentioning.
repeatedly, but also stayed with the workers and not just the hotel workers, but the other workers in the hospitality industry.
And we'll make future events like this happen as well.
Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony.