Chicago to require big business (Wal-Mart) to pay a living wage?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0606/338264.html

If the federal government won't make them...

(Snip)
CHICAGO (AP) - Opponents of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s expansion into inner cities are scoring early success with a new tactic, enlisting support for a proposed local ordinance requiring giant retailers to significantly raise the minimum wage and help pay for health benefits.Advocates of the so-called living wage or big-box ordinance, which advanced to a vote by the Chicago City Council next week after being passed by its finance committee Wednesday, say its approval would set the stage for similar actions in other U.S. cities.

"These proposals are really about whether it's reasonable to ask some of the largest and most successful companies in the country to balance growth and profits with paying a living wage," said Paul Sonn, deputy director of the poverty program at the New York-based Brennan Center for Justice, who helped draft the ordinance.



Retailers, however, argue such ordinances would cause them to locate new stores elsewhere and force layoffs at existing outlets in the affected areas.

(Snip)

[Monkeyman]

1. DuPage

Would not even think of giving people a living wage. Hell you know its red as red can be

[rpannier]

2. That's what businesses like Mc Donald's, KFC, etc said

when Sacramento required all new businesses (and buisnesses that moved into a new building) in the city to provide Health Care to their workers. The businesses said they'd have to go elsewhere -- they didn't. Fact is -- big cities mean big money.

[LoZoccolo]

3. There are lots of mom & pop businesses within the city.

Basically the infrastructure is built for them as there is pretty much storefronts every four blocks. The big boxes move in mostly to former industrial districts where they've torn down sections of factories, though recently there have been a few big boxes that they've built on blocks within the neighborhoods using new development (like there's a Home Depot with parking on the roof on one of these storefront streets). Big boxes would start to destroy the small businesses and take a chunk out of the middle class if people couldn't run these stores profitably.

[Little Star]

4. Locate new stores where?

Would they locate them in farm country? Empty threat from these retailers. They want to be in heavily populated areas. Good on those people in Chicago!

[demdiva]

5. Illinois actually already has a higher minimum wage then the federal

But I'm glad to hear it ... Chicago is expensive

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. Yes, 6.50.

But like you say, in Chicago that's nothing.

[demdiva]

6. Is SF really $8.50 an hour?

BTW it's bad that I think $17,680 / year is high in a city like San Francisco!

http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm#Illinois