Jul 25, 2006 11:15 pm US/Central
Big Box Debate Comes Down To The Wire
Vote Scheduled For Wednesday's City Council Meeting
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley also contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The Chicago City Council is in a high-priced battle with big stores like Wal-Mart and Target. The council will vote on a proposal Wednesday requiring employees to be paid at least $10 an hour.
On Tuesday night, those in favor of the big box ordinance slept on the streets.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports both sides lobbied hard in the final hours before the vote.
People planned to camp out overnight and sleep on the sidewalk just around the corner from City Hall to show support for the big box ordinance. It's the latest in a string of rallies and press conferences over the issue that has polarized several factions of the city.
"I hope tomorrow that we will pass the living wage and possibly become a model," said supporter Dollie Brewer.
The real fireworks can be expected inside City Hall Wednesday when the much-debated ordinance comes up for a vote. It would require big box retailers like Target and Wal-Mart to pay employees at least $10 an hour and $3 in benefits by July 1, 2010.
According to the nose counters on both sides, the consensus seems to be that there are enough votes to pass this landmark ordinance.
That means supporters – like the big unions – are busy trying to hold their votes in line. Big business, which opposes the measure, is working hard to pick off a few votes in the hope of staging an upset.
On the eve of the big box vote, the shouting and lobbying continued down to the wire. Opponents demonstrated outside City Hall with candles carrying the names of each alderman.
"All we're saying is people need jobs. We understand these are not head of household jobs, nor are they career jobs. But they are jobs," ordinance opponent Rev. Gregory Daniels said.
Earlier, inside the hall, supporters presented aldermen petitions carrying 10,000 signatures.
Target and Wal-Mart have threatened to cancel planned Chicago stores if the law requiring $10 an hour wages is passed. But supporters say they're bluffing.
"They're so saturated in the suburbs and rural areas, there's nowhere else to go but the cities," said ordinance supporter Shiren Rattigan.
While opponents say the retailers can't afford $10 an hour, supporters have a one word reply: Costco.
"The Costco company pays a living wage, and it pays decent benefits and they have made this a corporate policy," said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.
Costco opened a Chicago store five years ago, starting new workers at $10 an hour. Workers there believe their competitors can do the same.
"I know they can do it because Costco can do it. And if Costco can do it, they're far bigger companies than we are," said Costco employee Jose Cortes.
"I'm not living paycheck to paycheck. It's a big difference," Costco employee Lynette York said.
Those in favor of the proposal say it's about providing a living wage.
"Businesses always counteract that it's gonna cost them jobs and it's going to cost the economy. In fact, study after study has shown that the opposite is true," Ald. Joe Moore said.
But Mayor Daley doesn't like it. Neither does Wal-Mart.
"We believe that everybody should be paid a fair and competitive wage, which we provide. But the issue we have with this particular ordinance is that it just focuses on some businesses and some members of retail," Wal-Mart spokesman John Bisio said.
In fact, Bisio says Wal-Mart would look to the suburbs for expansion if the ordinance passes. Aldermen say Target would do the same.
"I understand that the votes are tightening up. I wouldn't pretend to know for sure how this will go," Bisio said.
It takes 26 votes to pass. As of now, supporters of the ordinance think they have 33 or 34 votes.
If that happens, opponents are hoping Mayor Daley will veto the law. If the council overrides the veto, then they're promising a court challenge. Daley won't say if he would consider a veto.
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