L.A. Living Wage Law Is Upheld

(Hijab Tip: Nadia Afghani)

Subhana'Allah. It's a sad day when the politicians and judges get it right and the Muslim organizations (no names, but you know who I mean), that claim to be at the forefront of advocating justice, don't.

The 3-0 ruling by a panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles means that the city can now implement a law that would provide salary and benefits equal to $10.64 an hour to workers at a dozen LAX-area hotels. The law had been struck down in May by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David P. Yaffe, who sided with business interests and ruled that the city had not made sufficient changes from an earlier version of the ordinance.

The law is groundbreaking because living wage laws in the United States are usually applied to government contractors. The law in Los Angeles went a step further, targeting the hotels because they generate so much business from the city-owned airport.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa hailed the decision as a victory.

"I have always supported the alternative ordinance, which the court upheld today, because it balances the right of workers to receive a living wage with the concerns and needs of business," he said in a statement issued by his press office.

The law will most immediately affect about half of the 3,500 hotel workers, with the other half already making more than $10.64 an hour. But periodic cost-of-living adjustments to the living wage probably will result in a raise for most of the 3,500 workers.

Full story: LA Times

Yes folks. There are Muslim organizations that could care less. They were fine with the idea of directing thousands of Muslims towards hotels that were NOT even paying a living wage. It looks as though they are going to have to find a new way to manifest their narrow minded backwardness to perpetuate injustice. Alhamdulillah for the victory. May Allah (swt) guide our organizations and protect us from their mistakes.