City of Salem  In City Council May 23, 2024  RESOLUTION: CREATIVE ECONOMY  Whereas the Creative Economy is vital to the continued success of Salem as a tourist destination, our Whereas actors, artists, and other creative professionals vital to the success of our Creative Economy are Whereas like workers everywhere actors, artists, and other creative professionals deserve a living wage, access tol healthcare, OSHA protections, sick leave, overtime protections, and all other benefits granted to Whereas all too often actors, artists, and other creative professionals are intentionally mis-classified as Whereas under Massachusetts law employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors may Whereas wage theft is thei most common form oft theft in America and costs the Commonwealth of Whereas the city of Salem has an obligation to ensure fair and equitable employment practices both within our municipal workforce and those businesses and organizations we contract with, THEREFORE BEI IT RESOLVED: That the City of Salem not only opposes the misclassification actors, artists, and other creative professionals as independent contractors, but also actively supports efforts to organize actors, artists, and other working creative professionals to achieve al living wage, healthcare, and THEREFORE BEI ITI FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City of Salem strongly ençourages both its local departments and private businesses that the city contracts with to engage with local labor organizations when engaging the services of an actor, artist, or other working creative professional when seeking to commission public service announcements, commercials, training videos, and other forms ofmedia in order tol both support the workers of our local creative economy and ensure compliance with Upon ratification, a copy of this resolution shall be posted on the city's website.  local business community, and the economic well being ofo our region,  workers whose employment adds real value to our local community and economy  employees  independent contractors to deny them these benefits  face both civil and criminal charges for committing wage theft Massachusetts an estimated $1 Billion annually in lost revenue  thel basic protections employees are entitled to under the law inl Massachusetts.  Massachusetts law.  In City Council May 23, 2024 Adopted as amended Approved by the Mayor on May 29, 2024  ATTEST:  ILENE SIMONS CITY CLERK