A Poverty Wage Center in Queens: New Report Details Low Wages at Queens Center Mall (12/21/09)

 A RWDSU-backed coalition of unions, community groups, shoppers, and local elected officials released a report at Queens Center Mall yesterday, exposing the Macerich Company-owned mall as a publicly subsidized poverty wage center.

According to the report, released by the RWDSU and Queens community group Make the Road, the massive mall has received  $48 million in tax breaks over the past five years with another $50 million more to come. However, most of the 3,100 jobs at the mall pay at or slightly more than the $7.25 federal minimum wage and do not include health benefits. As a result, the Mall has helped create an entire community that is struggling under the weight of poverty-wage jobs, the report concludes.

The Queens Center Mall campaign builds on the momentum from a recent 45-1 vote by the New York City Council to reject the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, in part, because the developer there refused to sign a Community Benefits Agreement that included a living wage and protections of the right of workers to join a union without fear or intimidation by their employer.

"Today we are opening a second front in the battle for living wages in New York City," said RWDSU Organizer Jeff Eichler (above center, blue coat). "We began in the Bronx and today we're in Queens, where the mall owner is receiving tens of millions of dollars in public money. We believe it's only fair that they give something back to the community for these subsidies by providing living wage jobs, the right to organize and community benefits."

At yesterday's event, elected officials and community leaders agreed that whether in the Bronx or Queens, living wages are the new standard in the fight for good jobs in New York City.

Daniel Dromm (above, black coat), City Council member-elect from Queens District 25 where the Mall is located, said, "I believe that any recipient of tax subsidies must be held to the highest standard. They must pay livable wages and they must be responsive to the needs of the surrounding community."

"It makes me angry that the Mall makes so much money off of the community, but doesn't give anything back," said Rabia Sajid, from South Asian Youth Action (SAYA).  "The mall could be so much more to the community. It could be a means for young adults to support themselves through college. It could
be a place where young people learn the value of hard work, and job skills to advance in the future. The Mall should make the stores there pay people more, at least 10 dollars an hour and provide health insurance. It should also partner with community groups to provide good job training programs for young people."

Jose Peralta, NY State Assembly member, Assembly District 39, and Julissa Ferreras, City Council member District 21, also participated in yesterday's event.

To download the full report, which includes a list of all of the organizations who are endorsing the Queens Center Mall campaign, click here.

Community group Make the Road partnered with the RWDSU to release the Queens Center Mall report.