Bucks, Alliance for Good Jobs announce agreement stipulating minimum wage for arena workers

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks and the "Alliance for Good Jobs" on Thursday, May 19th announced a new agreement regarding "end use jobs" related to the new Milwaukee Bucks arena and surrounding development in downtown Milwaukee. It's an agreement officials are calling a game-changer. It sets a minimum wage for workers, and new standards as it relates to who will be hired for this project.

Nearly a year ago, the Alliance for Good Jobs demanded the Bucks pay a living wage to workers in and around the arena. "What`s changed is that the Milwaukee Bucks made a choice to collaborate with our coalition of labor and community organizations. They made a choice to change how our economy works," Peter Rickman with the Alliance for Good Jobs said.

State lawmakers say they brought up wage standards during the arena negotiations. "We wanted to be absolutely certain that these would be good-paying jobs, these would be family-supporting, and they would hire from the communities that generally have difficulty finding jobs," Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said. According to a news release from the Milwaukee Bucks, the Bucks "are committing to living wage and first source hiring provisions that will create opportunities for Milwaukee residents in disadvantaged communities." The agreement covers direct employees of the Bucks as well as employees of contractors engaged by the Bucks in the arena district, according to the release.

Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin said this in the statement from the Bucks:

Bucks officials say this agreement will establish a living wage floor for all employees involved in the arena project and the surrounding district. The agreement stipulates a minimum wage for end use employees of $15 per hour by 2023, starting at $12 per hour in 2017. "This isn’t just about an arena, it isn’t about the Bucks, it’s about economic development," said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.

Additionally, according to the release, the Bucks and Alliance for Good Jobs will enact a first source hiring program that will require at least 50 percent of covered employees in the arena district to reside (at the time of hire) in specified Milwaukee zip codes that are particularly hard hit by unemployment or underemployment. A "hiring hall" will be established to serve as a first source for potential employees. The new agreement also includes a provision that will provide arena district employees with an opportunity to unionize, the release states. "What’s really critical here is you have the Milwaukee Bucks voluntarily doing this," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, "This is not part of the legislation but they recognize that if people are working, they should have a decent wage." Peter Rickman with the Alliance for Good Jobs said this in the statement released by the Bucks:

The new arena and surrounding district will involve 27 acres in downtown Milwaukee. The arena is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018. Ground will be broken on June 18th. To learn more about this project, visit www.bucks.com/arena. PHOTO GALLERY Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) issued this statement on the agreement:

Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) issued this statement:

Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) issued this statement:

Rep. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) issued this statement:

Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) issued this statement: