Speech to the City of Fairfield Leadership and Community Good evening, city council, colleagues, and members of our Fairfield community. My name is Phil Stewart and I stand before you today on behalf of the hardworking members of the Fairfield Employee Association—the F.E.A. union. We are the backbone of this city, the dedicated public servants who keep Fairfield running smoothly every single day. From maintaining our streets to ensuring public safety, from supporting our schools to serving our residents, we are the heart of this community. And today, we are united in asking for something simple, something fair: a 10% raise to meet the rising challenges of living and working in California.
Let me start with a hard truth: the cost of living in California is crushing us. Over the past few years, inflation has driven up the price of everything—housing, groceries, gas, childcare, utilities you name it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California's Consumer Price Index rose by 18% statewide from 2019 to 2023. In Fairfield, where many of us live and raise our families, the reality is even starker. Rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment here averages over $2,000 a month. A gallon of gas hovers around $4.65. A trip to the grocery store for a family of four can easily cost $400 or more. These aren't luxuries; these are the bare necessities to survive.
Now, let's talk about our wages. Many F.E.A. members earn below the state's average annual wage of $84,400. For context, MIT's Living Wage Calculator estimates that a single adult in California needs to earn $30 per hour—roughly $58,000 a year—to cover basic needs without relying on assistance. For a family with two working adults and two children, that number jumps to $46.38 per hour per adult, or about $96,470 annually. Yet, many of us are making far less than that. We're not asking to get rich. We're asking to keep up, to afford a decent life in the state we.serve.
Our current wages, without a significant adjustment, are losing value every day. Inflation doesn't just nibble at our paychecks—it takes big bites. Since 2022, California's inflation rate has outpaced wage growth for many workers, with prices rising 13% while wages crept up by only 4% statewide. For us in Fairfield, this means we're falling behind, forced to stretch every dollar further just to make ends meet. Some of us are working second jobs,
10 cutting back on essentials, or dipping into savings—if we even have any left. This isn't sustainable. It's not fair. And it's not right for the people who dedicate their lives to this city.
Let's be clear: we're not just numbers on a budget sheet. We're the ones who show up, day in and day out, to make Fairfield a place we're all proud to call home. We're the maintenance workers who keep our parks pristine, the administrative staff who ensure our services run smoothly, the public safety employees who protect our neighborhoods, and the countless others who serve behind the scenes. Our work isn't just a job—it's a commitment to our community. But commitment alone doesn't pay the rent or put food on the table.
A 10% raise isn't a handout; it's a necessity. It's a step toward closing the gap between our wages and the soaring cost of living. It's a recognition of our value to Fairfield and an investment in the future of this city. Studies show that fair wages lead to better employee retention, higher productivity, and stronger communities. When we're paid what we're worth, we can focus on doing our best work instead of worrying about how to afford the next bill. And when we spend our hard-earned money in Fairfield's businesses, we boost the local economy, creating a ripple effect of prosperity.
To the city leadership, I say this: you have the power to do what's right. You have the chance to show that Fairfield values its workers, not just in words, but in action. A 10% raise is a reasonable request when you consider the economic pressures we face and the below- average wages many of us earn in one of the most expensive states in the nation. We're not asking for special treatment; we're asking for fairness, for respect, for a wage that reflects the reality of living in California in 2025.
To my fellow F.E.A. members, I say: stand tall. Your work matters. Your voice matters.
Together, we are unstoppable. So let's keep fighting, not just for ourselves, but for our families, our coworkers, and the future of our community.
And to the people of Fairfield, we ask for your support. We're your neighbors, your friends, your fellow residents. When we succeed, Fairfield succeeds. A well-paid workforce means a stronger, more vibrant city for all of us.
In closing, I urge the city to act boldly and act now. Approve a 10% raise for the F.E.A. union.
Show us that our sacrifices, our dedication, and our labor are valued. Let's build a Fairfield where every worker can afford to live with dignity, where our wages keep pace with the cost of living, and where our contributions are recognized as the foundation of this great city.
Together, we can make that vision a reality.
Thank you.