D.C. Council approves ‘living wage’ bill over Wal-Mart ultimatum
By Mike DeBonis, WashPost, Wednesday, July 10, 3:52 PM
D.C. lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a bill requiring certain large retailers to pay their employees a 50 percent premium over the city’s minimum wage, a day after Wal-Mart warned the law would jeopardize their plans in the city.
The retail giant on Tuesday linked the future of at least three planned stores in the District to the proposal. But the ultimatum did not change any legislators’ minds. The 8-5 vote, which came after a hour long debate in a packed council chamber, matched the outcome of an earlier vote on the matter.
“The question here is a living wage; it’s not whether Wal-Mart comes or stays,” said Vincent Orange (D-At Large), a lead backer of the legislation who added the city did not need to kowtow to threats: “We’re at a point where we don’t need retailers. Retailers need us.”
Should the bill be signed by Mayor Vincent C. Gray and pass a congressional review period, retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more and operating in spaces 75,000 square feet or larger would be required to pay employees no less than $12.50 an hour. The city’s minimum wage is $8.25.
(More here.)
D.C. lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a bill requiring certain large retailers to pay their employees a 50 percent premium over the city’s minimum wage, a day after Wal-Mart warned the law would jeopardize their plans in the city.
The retail giant on Tuesday linked the future of at least three planned stores in the District to the proposal. But the ultimatum did not change any legislators’ minds. The 8-5 vote, which came after a hour long debate in a packed council chamber, matched the outcome of an earlier vote on the matter.
“The question here is a living wage; it’s not whether Wal-Mart comes or stays,” said Vincent Orange (D-At Large), a lead backer of the legislation who added the city did not need to kowtow to threats: “We’re at a point where we don’t need retailers. Retailers need us.”
Should the bill be signed by Mayor Vincent C. Gray and pass a congressional review period, retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more and operating in spaces 75,000 square feet or larger would be required to pay employees no less than $12.50 an hour. The city’s minimum wage is $8.25.
(More here.)
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3 Comments:
So, essentially D.C. lawmakers are saying that they want to reduce the number of available jobs and shopping options for their constituents. Is it any wonder that many of our major cities are in financial trouble?
So essentially Walmart is saying if we have to pay a living wage to our 'associates' we won't.
Very telling.
Let the market work. If people want to work at Wal-Mart, let them. If you don't want to shop at Wal-Mart then don't. I choose to avoid Wal-Mart because I believe most of what they sell is of poor quality. To think that the old Soviet style central command and control can operate better than the free market is shear folly.
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