About a hundred workers ascended on the steps of City Hall Wednesday, announcing their fight for a Labor Standards Board. Advocates say a Labor Standards Board would recommend minimum wage, training requirements and safety guidelines.
Gerania Mata has been a labor organizer for 15 years. Speaking through a translator, she says a Labor Standards Board, would give workers a unified voice.
"The people that are most directly impacted by the problems, must have a voice central to creating the solutions," said Mata.
The workers from different fields, held signs and chanted in solidarity. Among them is former child care worker, Lydia Boerboom. Now with Kids Count on Us, she believes a Labor Standards Board would improve wages and working conditions.
After working three jobs to make ends meet, Boerboom says, "We have been essential workers from the beginning and yet we still get paid the lowest out of any educators. There isn't any career ladder we can climb, that will make us higher wages."
In the past year, workers in three states and across different sectors, have formed Standards Boards. Here, in the city of lakes, ten of the 13 city council members, along with the mayor, support the idea. In fact, Mayor Frey led the group in a workers' rights chant.
"When we talk about the future, we're talking about more flexibility for workers and safer operations," said the mayor. We're talking about utilizing space downtown in a different way. The cities that embrace this future, will ultimately be successful."
Advocates hope an ordinance is passed by fall, with work beginning early next year.
"A phrase that we use often," said Mata the labor organizer, "is that if you're not at the table, you're on the menu."