Don’t Expect Help From City Hall on New Wage Law

Don’t count on City Hall to step in if your employer isn’t paying the new minimum wage.

Albuquerque’s new minimum-wage ordinance, like the old one, provides for civil enforcement of the wages in court, through litigation brought by the employee. A company is subject to paying not only the back wages, with interest, but also damages equal to twice the back wages.

Add it all up and the company could end up paying triple the back wages, plus the plaintiff’s legal fees.

The ordinance also allows the city attorney to pursue enforcement.

But “we’re not geared up to do that at this point,” Assistant City Attorney Greg Wheeler said. “We don’t have the resources to do that.”

In any case, he said no one has called to say their employer is failing to pay what’s required.

The new minimum wage is $8.50 an hour or $3.83 an hour for tipped employees.

Employers who provide a certain level of health- and child-care benefits to workers could pay $1 less.

Website navigation

Catching up with the City Council online is much easier now.

The council has added a new video component to its website for past meetings. The link will call up a split screen where you can select an agenda item, and video from that section of the meeting will come up.

Under the old system, viewers had to fast-forward and rewind until they found the spot they were interested in.

Go to www.cabq.gov/council. Click the link for “agendas, minutes and legislation.” Then click the link for “Legislative Information Portal” and, once that comes up, make sure you’re on the calendar tab.

Not running

The race for mayor of Albuquerque lost a potential candidate this week.

U.S. Department of Agriculture executive Terry Brunner said he won’t run for the job this year.

The only announced candidate so far is Pete Dinelli, a former city councilor and former chief public safety officer in Albuquerque.

Potential candidates include Mayor Richard Berry, who hasn’t said whether he will seek re-election; former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish; City Councilor Ken Sanchez; retired police Sgt. Paul Heh; and Steve Smothermon, pastor at Legacy Church.

The municipal election is in October.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal