SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COULD FACE PENALTIES OVER LIVING WAGE.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer A dispute between the city of Los Angeles
Southwest Airlines Co. over the city's living-wage law escalated Tuesday with the threat of legal action against the company and possible eviction The removal of a tenant from possession of premises in which he or she resides or has a property interest done by a landlord either by reentry upon the premises or through a court action. from Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX . The City Council's Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee told Southwest Airlines the company faces the prospect of stiff penalties unless it agrees to pay the living wage to some 150 employees retroactive Having reference to things that happened in the past, prior to the occurrence of the act in question. A retroactive or retrospective law is one that takes away or impairs vested rights acquired under existing laws, creates new obligations, imposes new duties, or attaches a to Sept. 1. ``We need to send a message to Southwest and all the other airlines that this City Council is serious about this,'' said Councilman Rudy Svorinich Rudy Svorinich (born 1960) is a Republican who served on the Los Angeles City Council representing the 15th district. A resident of San Pedro, his diverse district also includes the community of Watts. He was elected to the council in 1993 and served two full terns. Jr., who was an early opponent of the living-wage plan. ``This council is prepared to go to the mat and make sure the law is followed.'' Southwest has 155 flights a day out of Terminal 1 at LAX and occupies nearly 19,000 square feet at the facility. It pays a monthly rental of $170,000 - about $2.1 million a year. The city's living-wage law requires employers with city contracts to pay workers a minimum of $7.51 an hour plus benefits or $8.76 an hour without benefits. However, Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin said the company is prepared to begin making the payments once the City Council gives final approval to its contract. ``We have been waiting for the city to take final action,'' Harbin said. ``As soon as a contract is consummated, we will begin making the payments.'' Madeline Janis-Aparacio of the Living Wage Coalition said the issue is whether the higher pay should have begun Sept. 1 when Southwest's last lease expired and the new city law took effect. ``They have been bankrolling that money that should have gone to workers,'' Janis-Aparicio said. ``At this point, we're looking at something like $3,000 a worker.'' Harbin said she was unaware of any retroactivity Retroactivity in law is the application of a given norm to events that took place or began to produce legal effects, before the law was approved. Most countries are guided by the general principle of irretroactivity of law requirement. Part of the problem has been the city was holding on to the leases, waiting to see whether the airlines would challenge the living-wage provision. Once they agreed to the provision, the leases have been processed. |
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