Illinois Lt. Governor Wants Statewide Big Box Living Wage

[JohMunich99]

CHICAGO (2006-08-14) Chicago may not be the only city with a so-called 'big box' rule, if one politician has his way. Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn says he wants a state-wide living wage law for large chain retailers.

"If they think the secret to success is to drive down the wages of their hard working productive employees, and not pay them health benefits and then tell the state of Illinois, 'Well, through your Medicaid program we expect you to pay the health coverage of our workers.' There's something wrong with that, and we're not going to put up with it," he says.

Quinn says he'll speak to legislators after this November's elections to gather support for the measure.

Chicago's City Council recently passed an ordinance forcing large chain retailers to pay workers $10 an hour plus health benefits but Mayor Richard Daley says he's considering a veto. Daley and other opponents of the measure say it will drive stores to build in suburban areas instead of in the city."

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/chicago/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=954295

[trogdor]

1. This makes all kinds of sense

As long as we have this idiotic system where employers provide health coverage (or not), employers should be taxed based on their impact on Medicaid.

[sgxnk]

2. i support

raising the minimum wage

i do not support this absurd concept that CERTAIN types of retailers should have pay a "living wage", which means that others are exempt

this law is totally absurd

walmart should be subject to the same "living wage" or minimum wage that mom n pop stores are

[Kittycat]

4. Mom and pop shops...

Aren't employing Hundreds of workers at a single location - all of which become a drain on the economy's health benefits.

Mom and pop shops are also more likely to employ family members and young, underskilled employees more suited for the real min. wage.

[sgxnk]

19. i am aware of that

i don't think that justifies a two tiered system

equality under the law means that all employers should be burdened by the same minimum wage (which imo should be higher)

singling out certain types of employers is totally unjust imo

[pokercat999]

12. I agree employers should not be responsible

for health care. We are supposed to be EMPLOYEES not slaves. The state should have free health care for everyone and free education through college and on to post grad for a return of some kind of public service by the student.

All employers should have to pay a living wage and it should be pegged to inflation. There should be a national MAXIMUM wage and the congress, and ALL Federal employees should be within the maximum.

[midnight]

17. This makes so much sense to me.

Why or what will it take for us to make this happen.

[pokercat999]

18. I would like to think that reason would rule the day

and after the 2006 elections the Democrats will impeach Bush and Company. When the Democrats take over the WH and Congress in 2006/2008 they will have a chance to remake America, if they have the intestinal fortitude to do so. If not or if they don't "win" these elections we are left with a bitter choice. As I see it we will have to divide America into two countries and let the Neo-cons live as they choose and allow the progressive left to finally have a country based on justice in all things. Unfortunately I don't think it's in the nature of the right to let anyone live in peace.

[Skink]

3. Maybe the Neocons will rethink their stance on Medicaid...

before every state in the country does this.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

5. It's a good start.

Although I don't think it's necessarily fair to have the same minimum wage everywhere. It is one heck of a lot more expensive to live in Chicago than it is to live in more rural parts of Illinois (by a factor of 2 or 3).

I think an even better law would be to require large employers to provide health insurance for ALL of their employees (so that Wal Mart can't just reclassify all their workers as part time and not give them any benefits). The argument for requiring this of large employers and not small employers is more solid, given that large employers can negotiate much lower rates with insurance companies and probably have larger margins anyway.

[On the Road]

6. I Was Afraid This Meant

the wage needed to live in a big box. That's about what it is now.

[JohMunich99]

14. How true

and how sad

[apnu]

7. Rock on Quinn!

This Chicagoian's got your back on this one.

[longship]

8. CostCo moves to Chicago.

CostCo, the company whose employees are unionized, receive a living wage, and enjoy benefits and full-time employment.

CostCo is a good outfit. Ms. Longship and I shop there all the time.

[apnu]

9. Don't forge they...

... tend to promote from within (one VP started out as a cart collector and hasn't left the company since), the big cheese gets less than 1 million salary, and has a one page contract (one freaking page!!!) and they retain 80% of the employees that work there. low turnover with this companty is good IMO.

[LiberalFighter]

13. Saw a program about Costco featuring the them

[JohMunich99]

16. That's awesome!

What a kick-ass company. I knew they were good, but damn, that's great!

[JohMunich99]

11. CostCo is already in Chicago....

:hi:

[Sherman A1]

10. Yippee!

Way Cool!!! Hope it works!

[Bjornsdotter]

15. Great

It's a good start, although my rep Jack Franks will probably side with Wal-Mart.

Cheers