Castro promised not to use the mayor's office to empower unions. While Castro backed the right of non-uniformed city employees to "meet and confer" with the city manager, something unanimously approved by a 2008 council vote, he stressed
that "it's non-binding; it's not collective bargaining," and opposed granting such rights to civilian city employees. Nonetheless, he received the endorsements of several local unions, including the San Antonio Police Officers Association.
Source: Jacobin Magazine on 2020 Democratic primary contenders
, Feb 15, 2019
Minimum wage should be a living wage
It is a shame today that we have not seen a minimum wage increase in almost a decade. It's different than it used to be, right?
You used to be able to work 40 hours, even on minimum wage, and be able to provide for your family. Today that's not true. And we need to get back to a place in this 21st Century where that is true. The economy works for everybody.
Source: ABC This Week 2019 interviews for 2020 Democratic primary
, Jan 6, 2019
2009: Convened San Antonio Job Summit
On December 16, 2009, Mayor Julian Castro convened the 2009 San Antonio Job Summit, a half-day forum bringing together key stakeholders in the community. More than 100 leaders from the business and public sectors joined to provide answers to questions
posed by President Obama's Forum on Jobs and Economic Development. The stakeholders represented the following economic sectors: manufacturing, aviation, technology, cyber security, government, insurance, utilities, communication, non-profit, education,
small and micro-business, hospitality, labor, and local Chambers of Commerce. After presentations by Mayor Castro and a local economist on the state of the national, regional, and local economies, attendees were divided into 12 roundtable discussions.
Conclusions on Federal Policy Implications include that the federal government should enact policies that encourage the resumption of lending nationwide.
