Shelby County is one step closer to adopting a wage theft ordinance that would make it easier for employees to reclaim lost or stolen wages. The ordinance, proposed by County Commissioner Steve Mulroy, passed on its first reading at the Shelby County Commission’s general government committee meeting today.
Kyle Kordsmeier of the Workers Interfaith Network was present at today’s committee meeting to stand in support of the ordinance; Herbi-Systems owner Kenny Crenshaw of “Lemme Kill Your Weeds” fame showed up to say, “lemme kill your ordinance.”
The county ordinance is scheduled to go up for its second reading next Monday. But the real test will be next Tuesday, when an identical ordinance, sponsored by Memphis City Councilman Myron Lowery, goes up for its first reading at city council. Because the Shelby County ordinance would only cover unincorporated Shelby County, the same ordinance must also pass in the city council for it to have an effect on wage theft in Memphis.