This is, indeed, a noble gesture on the part of Los Angeles City Council and it is likely that the initiative would lead to a good increase in the hourly wage under the L.A. living-wage ordinance for about 5,000 low-income employees. Well, all these optimistic concepts are coming to the fore owing to the recent approach of the same Los Angeles City Council. The Council has launched an effort to provide health insurance for about 5,000 low-income workers at Los Angeles International Airport through improving the hourly wage required under the city’s “living-wage” ordinance.

It must be stated that the idea was accepted unanimously and this boosted the Council to direct the city attorney to draft a revision for the law that could improve the hourly wage of airport workers from $11.25 to between $13 and $14. Well, Council members demanded that the projected amendment be returned to them within 30 days for further consideration.

Speaking on this, Councilwoman Janice Hahn, a major proponent of the revision, stated, “There is not enough living in the current living-wage ordinance.” “We are planning to invest billions of dollars to renovate LAX, and we need to invest in the workers who keep that airport operating every day.”

There are conjectures that the changes will be sanctioned and it would bring sweeping transformations that would certainly influence thousands of people hired by private contractors, which perform various services for airlines and aviation-related companies at LAX. It is to be noted that these firms render janitors, skycaps, baggage handlers, aircraft cabin cleaners, security personnel and attendants for travelers with disabilities.

Let’s focus on alleged changes then. It has to be taken into consideration that $1.25 an hour differential has not been increased in more than a decade. However, in the meantime, the cost of healthcare has surged exponentially, making sufficient health insurance too expensive for workers and their employers. Furthermore, almost 3,100 LAX workers, including 700 children, lack health insurance. This apathetic situation gives rise to expectation. Is it uncalled for?