The Living Wage Coalition was initiated in 1998 by labor unions, community organizations and religious congregations to develop a movement led and democratically run by low-wage workers. As a result of a grass-roots campaign, San Franciscos living wage laws - called the Minimum Compensation Ordinance (passed in 2000) and the Health Care Accountability Ordinance (passed in 2001) - require that businesses with a service contract with the City or property lease at the Airport must pay workers at least $11.54 per hour (non-profits $11.03 per hour), provide 12 paid days off per year and provide health care coverage.  In addition, businesses leasing other property from the City must provide health care coverage as a condition of their lease.

By the City's estimates, more than 30,000 workers have benefited.

In 2004, we worked with eight other organizations in the Minimum Wage Coalition to get a ballot initiative passed - the Minimum Wage Ordinance - that created a municipal minimum wage that covers everyone working at least two hours per week in San Francisco. The City minimum wage is currently $9.79 per hour, with annual cost-of-living adjustments based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for the Bay Area.