‘Feel my pain’: Contracted city workers left out of Richmond wage increase

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- While full-time city employees saw their wages increase to $20.00 an hour earlier this year, contracted workers like Latrease Gregory are still making just $15.00 an hour.

“Right now, I’m living paycheck to paycheck,” Gregory, who works as a day porter at the Southside Social Services building, said. “The struggle is real. I'm 51. I can't afford my own apartment.”

Gregory is one of about 200 workers hired through third-party contractors to clean and secure city-owned buildings. Unlike government employees, she said these contracted workers don’t receive city benefits or guaranteed wage increases.

Gregory said that gap has had devastating consequences. After taking time off for surgery -- and receiving no income during recovery -- she said she lost her apartment. She has been living with her daughter ever since.

Next leader of Richmond City Hall officially sworn in

"We’re at the bottom of the barrel," Gregory said. "But, without us, you ain’t gonna have no clean buildings."

On June 2, Gregory and other workers brought their frustrations to Richmond City Council, calling for the same $20.00 minimum wage and basic benefits provided to other city employees.

"I need y’all to hear me," she said. "I need you to feel my pain."

While the proposed 2026 Richmond city budget did not include a minimum wage increase for third-party contractors, councilmembers expressed interest in exploring the possibility.

They approved a request for the city’s chief administrative officer to conduct a study. It examines the impact of requiring janitorial and security contractors to pay workers Richmond’s $20 minimum wage.

Trump ends tax loophole: What this means for consumers buying overseas

“A study is not going to put food on my table,” Gregory said. “We want the $20. We want the paid time off. And we want the benefits we need these days.”

City officials said the study’s findings will be delivered to the council by Nov. 1.