Chicago City Council Oks Living Wage

[Janus]

Brushing aside warnings from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the City Council approved an ordinance Wednesday that makes Chicago the biggest city in the nation to require big-box retailers to pay a "living wage."

"It's trying to get the largest companies in America to pay decent wages," said Alderman Toni Preckwinkle.

The ordinance passed 35-14 after three hours of impassioned debate.

The measure requires mega-retailers with more than $1 billion in annual sales and stores of at least 90,000 square feet to pay workers at least $10 an hour in wages plus $3 in fringe benefits by mid-2010. The current minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50 an hour and the federal minimum is $5.15.

Chicago City Council OKs 'living wage' (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/ap_on_re_us/chicago_living_wage;_ylt=AlbHxhQWov91adAEorBZ_Khvz wcF;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--)

Conditions in Chicago and the whole Manufacturing Belt have decreased dramatically since the heydays.

Do you think that this will be a major boost there?

[bolshevik butcher]

I'm not sure if it's a big enough advance to be a major victory but it is certainly a progressive move that should be welcomed by socialists, while we must explain that it does not go far enough.

[Janus]

Of course, we should always remain critical of such reforms. A small wage increase will not get the "Rust Belt" back on its feet any time soon.

[which doctor]

I think it is a good idea, but I'm not sure how far this raise will go. Will living costs also rise?

In a city like Chicago $10 is more like a surviving wage, not a living wage.

Although It doesn't go far enough, it is a good step. Chicago City Council has been fighting to keep Wal-Mart out of their city, with both successes and failures.

On a side note: Chicago city council also recently banned the sale of foie gras in the city!

[Janus]

Chicago City Council has been fighting to keep Wal-Mart out of their city, with both successes and failures.
They have?

Then what's the point of this decision if Wal-Mart is just gonna leave?

[which doctor]

They have?
Yes, there has been lots of support from the city to oppose the building of a Wal-Mart in Chicago. The city council eventually lost and some land was rezoned for Wal-Mart, but I don't think any stores have actually been built.


Then what's the point of this decision if Wal-Mart is just gonna leave?
This Living Wage Ordinance just doesn't effect Wal-mart. It affects other box stores (K-Mart, Target, Costco, etc), department stores and large grocery stores.

For more on the situation: http://www.pww.org/article/view/5834/1/233/

[Phalanx]

I don't think this will stop much less slow the decline in the area. Things in Chicago are alittle better than they are here in Wisconsin or Detroit, and this wage increase will help, albeit marginally.

Our cities here are crumbling and as seen in Milwaukee and Detroit, becoming more and more segregated. The only feasible option now is a complete abandonment of the capitalist system, otherwise we will continue our downward spiral. My old neighborhood has gotten worse and worse with each year and there is no end to this decline in sight. $10 an hour will not bring us out of this mess, especially when we're still in our slums surveyed by the rich of the suburbs.

[Morag]

This Living Wage Ordinance just doesn't effect Wal-mart. It affects other box stores (K-Mart, Target, Costco, etc), department stores and large grocery stores.

Is Costco not unionised in the States?

[Seven Stars]

Originally posted by Fist of [email protected] 26 2006, 11:14 PM

They have?
Yes, there has been lots of support from the city to oppose the building of a Wal-Mart in Chicago. The city council eventually lost and some land was rezoned for Wal-Mart, but I don't think any stores have actually been built.
There is at least one open now and one about to open. I think I heard on the news that they planned on opening 20 but will not now since this passed. I think that this ordinance should be expanded to the entire state, that way Walmart can't just set up only in the Suburbs.

[bayano]

yeah, a walmart was recently opened on the west side (poor neighborhood) with much hubub about how many applicants there were for the jobs. it was a fierce battle, i was gonna be there today, but they were supposed to vote on this so many times that i was there for, i didnt feel up to it again, tho some comrades went and they saw the usual opportunism and bullshit in our city council chambers, with the added bonus of a pre-meeting rant by daley against it. what a scumbag. and it sounds like all of the dozen or so who voted against it are the run-of-the-mill reactionaries with their typical bullshit arguments. a nice lil victory for us

[Janus]

This Living Wage Ordinance just doesn't effect Wal-mart. It affects other box stores (K-Mart, Target, Costco, etc), department stores and large grocery stores.
I see. There was so much mention of Wal Mart that I thought it was directed against it but it seems that Wal Mart isn't set to open 'till September.

[Year: 1]

What a bunch of pussies in that Chicago City council----mid 2010!!!!!!!!

Fuck, that is 4 years from now. No wonder people are disillusioned with the political system. I'll bet Walmart will move out of Chicago by then just to set an example.

[which doctor]

I wouldn't be surprised if Walmart found a way around it. They could build two seperate stores right next to eachother that are right under the limits for paying the living wage. That's what they might do.

They did that in one city where the council made a limit on how large the stores could be. Walmart just built two stores right next to eachother.

[YKTMX]

A paltry concession that will only mask the workers to their misery which should be opposed by all revolutionaries....just kidding :lol: