Advertisement

Kevin Beckner goes off on Hillsborough Republican commissioners over wage theft problem

 
Kevin Beckner accused his colleagues of agreeing with the views of special interests.
Kevin Beckner accused his colleagues of agreeing with the views of special interests.
Published May 21, 2015

TAMPA — The Republican-dominated Hillsborough County Commission pushed back Wednesday against a Democratic proposal to have the county help victims of wage theft recover their lost income.

After contentious debate — including accusations from Democratic Commissioner Kevin Beckner that his colleagues were kowtowing to special interests — Republicans on the commission instead asked county staffers to explore an increase in funding for the nonprofit Bay Area Legal Services. They want that organization to take on wage theft cases for people who can't afford lawyers.

Wage theft, or wage disputes, occurs when employers withhold the earnings or benefits of employees. It can take many forms, such as forcing a worker to stay late without compensating for that time, stealing tips or intentionally misclassifying an employee as a contractor. It often affects low-income workers, particularly in service industries like restaurants and hotels, and in construction.

Beckner has spearheaded efforts to find a local solution to the problem, which, according to one study, is worse in Hillsborough than almost anywhere else in the state. His proposal would put the county in charge of reconciling wage disputes and holding quasi-legal proceedings to determine whether the employer is at fault. A hearing officer would have the power to award back pay and other penalties.

It's modeled after Miami-Dade County, which recouped $3 million in back wages for employees from 2010 to 2014, and is the approach preferred by advocates and researchers, Beckner said. St. Petersburg passed a similar ordinance this year, becoming the first city in the state to do so. Pinellas County is weighing options as well.

The five Republicans on Hillsborough's board, led by Commissioner Sandy Murman, expressed interest in tackling the problem. But they were concerned about the county taking on the new responsibility and expanding government.

There is no expected cost to the county in 2016, but it could increase to $45,000 a year in 2017 if it's determined a full-time employee is needed to handle the caseload.

"Once you make the commitment to police something that you're not currently policing, you take on a whole new level of commitment that will grow," Commissioner Victor Crist said.

By giving money instead to Bay Area Legal Services, Hillsborough would follow a model similar to Palm Beach County. Wage disputes would remain in the court system and victims would need to take legal action against their employer.

Beckner said that would maintain the status quo, but Crist said it would grant attorney access to those who need it.

Bay Area Legal Services CEO and president Dick Woltmann told the Tampa Bay Times he was unaware of any proposal but was "very interested in talking with the county about this opportunity."

Beckner said the Palm Beach model was the one preferred by Tallahassee lobbyists, specifically the Retail Federation of Florida, and that it was "really strange" that Hillsborough commissioners just so happened to settle on that option. Beckner eventually voted with his colleagues to study the Palm Beach model to keep the discussion going.

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

"I've heard a lot about costs and administration but there's been little discussion other than mere sentiments about the people that this impacts," Beckner said. "I haven't heard the importance of making sure we have the best model so we can no longer be ranked as the highest county for wage theft. What I have heard is the continuation promoted by lobbyists across the state — and perhaps, and it sounds like … they probably have infiltrated our county as well — to promote a system that does not work and feeds special interest."

Crist said Beckner's accusations were baseless and the equivalent to "bringing in a paper dragon that doesn't exist."

Contact Steve Contorno at scontorno@tampabay.com or @scontorno.