Wilmington City Council passed a resolution Thursday urging the General Assembly to enact “fair work week” legislation.
Such legislation would require employers with more than 150 employees and over 30 locations worldwide to give workers advance written notice of work schedules and additional compensation for last-minute schedule changes.
Council President Hanifa Shabazz sponsored the resolution. She says it aims to protect workers whose unpredictable schedules result in unpredictable pay
“People are working part-time jobs, and the fact that the schedules are not standard, they don’t know how much money they’re going to bring home because they don't know how many hours they’re going to get,” she said. “It’s very difficult for them to have a stabilized life.”
The resolution passed by a vote of 11 to 1, with only the Council’s lone Republican, Ciro Adams, dissenting.
“This is anti-business, this bill,” he said. “Absolutely anti-business.”
Shabazz disagrees. “If you are a business that you have 150 employees, 30 locations, I think you’re sophisticated enough to be able to at least do your scheduling of your part-time persons to the point where they can at least have a good quality of life."
Newly appointed 7th District Councilman Chris Johnson said City Council should go further.
“Currently in Dover we have minimum wage bills right now, so that’s an issue I believe it’s incumbent upon us to continue to push, because our citizens are often hurt the worst,” he said. “I think we need to also look at tip wage workers as well. ”
The City of Philadelphia passed a similar billlast year requiring certain employers provide reasonable notice of work schedules.
