Big-box 'living wage' passed, Chicago

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 26, 2006 | FRAN SPIELMAN

[jaydubya2]

Hope Daley will finally do the right thing a veto this new embarassment from the Chicago City Council.

[Graybeard58]

The court just struck down the same law in Maryland.

[Gay State Conservative]

Didn't a Federal court just overturn that Maryland law demanding that Wal Mart provide certain benefits?

[Graybeard58]

Ping

[Normal4me]

I hope Wal-Mart gives them the finger and walks away.

[dynachrome]

Daley will kiss the union's backside to get re-elected. (He has to have the labor union support to be re-elected and he is a good liberal)) I predict no veto.

[MeanWestTexan]

I hope Wal Mart closes its shops and lets Chicago rot.

Probably horrible theft problems there compared to red states.

[Normal4me]

Another idea is for walmart to agree and then refuse to hire any unions to build them.

[jaydubya2]

The union stores in Chicago pay a starting salary of less than $10 an hour (before union dues), yet they want to hold Wal-mart to a high standard.

[Clara Lou]

My whole feeling about this is that Chicago is entitled to cut its nose off to spite its face if it wants to. Actions have consequences--many of them unintended.

[Toddsterpatriot]

I hope Wal Mart closes its shops and lets Chicago rot.

There are no WalMarts in Chicago. Now you know why.

[TChris]

“Instead of wrapping himself in President Roosevelt’s cloak, he should be wearing a little cap with a feather. This is Sherwood Forest. My colleague is Robin Hood. What he wants to do is steal from the rich and give to the poor,’’ he said.

I'm sick of people mischarachterizing Robin Hood all the time. The point that is so frequently missed, is that R.H. took back money robbed from the people, in the form of oppressive taxation, in the first place! In short, "the rich" weren't his targets, but rather the oppressive, corrupt government.

[blam]

"Big-box retailers would be required to pay their Chicago employees a “living wage” — at least $10 an hour and $3 in benefits by 2010.

By 2010. Most companies can pack and move in 3.5 years.

[lumber1]

Big win for the unions, really bad for the lower income consumers of chicagoland

[FISHBOAT]

I believe that the union's pay is directly attached to the minimum wage. If the minimum wage goes up $2.00, the union's wages also go up $2.00. No wonder that the union's want the wages raised.

[jaydubya2]

Well, Chicago City Aldermen rarely make accurate statments ;)

[lepton]

He presented charts that showed the average Wal-Mart employee is paid $7.70 an hour and $16,016 a year, while Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott is paid $16,826 an hour (figuring on a 40-hour week) and $34.9 million a year.

Sooooo, if the CEO agreed to work for free, that wouldn't even result in a penny an hour raise for the typical worker, would it?

[MeanWestTexan]

I do.

Keeping it safe for the "company stores" for those stuck on their Democrat masters' plantations.

[Bigh4u2]

Yeah.

Let's just pay a stock boy $34.9 million a year.That'll solve the problem!

/s

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The union stores in Chicago pay a starting salary of less than $10 an hour (before union dues), yet they want to hold Wal-mart to a high standard.

Does not surprise me. The starting wage at or local Walmart is $9.35 an hour. At the union shops it is $7.50.