Philadelphia’s City Council recently passed four major bills in addition to the anticipated Fair Work Week legislation. These measures give more rights to tenants, attempt to resolve trespassing ordinances on occupancy disputes, and raised the minimum wage for city workers and contractors.

Most of these bills were introduced in June or during the fall session. With council meeting once more in the 2018 calendar, passage becomes increasingly important as next year brings elections.

Philadelphia City Council passed a bill Thursday mandating employers in certain industries provide more stable work schedules and lead time in altering them. The vote was 14-3, along party lines.

Introduced by Councilwoman Helen Gym (D-At Large), the bill brought crowds that filled both levels of the chamber’s viewing gallery, similar to the bill’s hearings in late October. Support has come from many labor and political groups, led by One PA.

Philadelphia City Council’s Committee on Labor and Civil Service passed a bill Tuesday outlining a plan to increase wages for city workers and those working on city contracts. It also ups the minimum wage mandated for businesses seeking tax credits for creating new jobs in the city.

City Council Thursday passed a bill that authorizes Philadelphia to provide municipal IDs for residents.

Philadelphia joins New York and Chicago as major municipalities creating identification cards for their citizens. The bill passed through the Licenses and Inspections Committee last week and earned unanimous approval from the council.

The city is seeking to help undocumented individuals, particularly youth and immigrants, to secure identity with residency and avoid potential confrontation. 

Wednesday morning members of the House Labor and Industry Committee held a public hearing on Governor Tom Wolf's proposed change for the overtime threshold and minimum wage requirements.