The NYT reported on Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's decision to veto an ordinance setting a higher minimum wage for large stores (e.g. Wal-Mart). After 2010, the law would have required large stores to pay workers at least $10 an hour, plus $3 an hour for benefits.
The article concludes by presenting the assertion of a Wal-Mart spokesperson that the average wage for "full-time hourly associates" in Illinois is $10.41 an hour. Before anyone assumes that this means that Wal-Mart already pays more than the 2010 minimum imposed by the vetoed ordinance, it is important to remember that the spokesperson only referred to "full-time" employees. What percent of Wal-Mart's workforce is counted as full-time? I don't know this one offhand, and the article provides no guidance on this issue. Maybe they could have gotten this information if they had spoken to someone from an organization that is critical of Wal-Mart.
There's too much at stake this November for us to quit. As we navigate another presidential election year, thoughtful independent journalism is more important than ever. We're committed to bringing you the latest news on what's really happening across the country this election season, shining a light on the stories corporate media overlooks and keeping the public informed about how power really works in America.
Quality reporting doesn't come for free, and we don't have corporate backers to rely on to fund our work. Everything we do is thanks to our incredible community of readers, who chip in a few dollars at a time to make what we do possible. This month, we're trying to raise $50,000 to help fuel our election coverage, and a generous donor has agreed to match all online donations. Any amount you give will help us deliver the high-quality coverage you expect from us this election.
