A news briefing at the State Capitol on "The Hidden Public Cost of Low-Wage Jobs in California," |
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19 May 2004 ATTENTION: Labor, government writers |
Contact:
Kathleen Maclay
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WHAT
A news briefing at the State Capitol on "The Hidden Public Cost of Low-Wage Jobs in California," a report being released Thursday, May 20 by the University of California, Berkeley's Center for Labor Research and Education.
The report prepared for the Oakland-based National Economic Development & Law Center documents an estimated annual cost to taxpayers of $10 billion to make up the difference between low-wage paychecks and families' economic self-sufficiency. The report finds that 2 million California workers in 2002 were employed year-round, but had to rely on publicly funded safety net programs to provide basic necessities for their families.
WHEN
1 p.m., Thursday, May 20
WHERE
Governor's Press Room, Room 1190, State Capitol, Sacramento
WHO
Carol Zabin, associate chair and research director of the Center for Labor Research and Education
Tse Ming Tam, division director of jobs, income and assets for the National Economic Development & Law Center
Sen. Richard Alarcón (D-Los Angeles), author of Senate Bill 1639, which would expand access to higher education for people with low incomes, including those on public assistance. Alarcón also is chair of the Senate Labor Committee.
Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), chair of the Assembly Labor Committee
Art Pulaski, secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation
DETAILS
Copies of the report will be available through the Center for Labor Research and Education by calling Ken Jacobs at (510) 643-2621 or from Aimee Durfee at the National Economic Development & Law Center at (510) 251-2600. The report will be available at www.nedlc.org on May 20.