COUNCIL SEEKS TO EXTEND `LIVING WAGE' TO LAX TENANTS.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Despite a claim it may be treading on federal powers, the Los Angeles City Council voted tentatively Tuesday to extend its Living Wage Ordinance to the employees of contractors for major city tenants, including the airlines at LAX.

Members voted unanimously to ask the City Attorney's Office to draft an ordinance that the council said is necessary to plug loopholes allowing some airport service workers to be paid a minimum wage of $5.75 without health benefits while others get the higher ``living wage'' of $7.39 with benefits.

``Yes, it will cost more, but that is the price we have to pay for economic justice,'' said Councilman Joel Wachs.

Two years after the council first adopted an ordinance applying to employees of all city contractors, the new ordinance would double the number of workers who will be covered by adding about 3,000 employees of contractors for the airlines, including baggage handlers, security officers and restaurant workers.

``Without intending to, we have (city-contracted) custodians in Bradley Terminal covered by living wage and (airline-hired) custodians in the United Terminal who are not covered,'' said Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg. ``What we are trying to do is close the loophole, to say, If you are a leaser of city property, you have (the) same obligation when you subcontract low-wage service jobs as if the city was the contractor.''

Some council members predicted that the airlines would sue the city to challenge its authority to regulate salaries.

Questioned later by phone, Robert Spann, an attorney for the airlines, said air carriers are regulated closely by the federal government.

``I think there are some questions,'' he said. ``What I am researching for the airlines is whether or not this action would be in conflict with federal regulation of the airlines.''

Several lawmakers and members of the Living Wage Coalition chided the airlines for refusing to pay living wages under the current ordinance, which they said could be interpreted to apply to the tenants of the Los Angeles International Airport.

``For airlines to sit here and want to pay security personnel less money than someone who serves Big Macs at McDonald's is unconscionable,'' Wachs said.

Airport Commissioner Miguel Contreras, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, said airlines have enjoyed a very profitable year.

``Yet these same wealthy airlines we see at the airport refuse to share their profits with the lowest-paid workers,'' Contreras said.

About 50 service workers from the airport joined Contreras at the council meeting in asking for the ordinance to be expanded.

Sonio Ramirez, a security screener at LAX, said she is a single mother who is typical of those just getting by on minimum wage.

``I have no health insurance for me and my child,'' Ramirez told the council. ``My job is very important. I check for bombs and guns and I risk my life every day. We deserve a living wage.''

No one spoke against the ordinance at the meeting either on the City Council or from the public.