Veto Won't End Chicago's Living Wage Battle

In Chicago, the failed ordinance would have required retail stores with at least 90,000 square feet run by companies with $1 billion or more in annual sales to pay $10 an hour and $3 an hour in fringe benefits by 2010. The battle drew national attention, led to a show of independence by council members, and the mayor's first veto in 17 years in office. Dennis Gannon, head of the more than 400,000-member Chicago Federation of Labor, says, "This issue is not going away. We are going to address it somehow. If it is in the City Council, fine. If it is in Springfield, fine. This battle isn't over because the mayor decided to veto something."

U.S. Congressman Danny Davis (D-Chicago) supports labor's and other community group's efforts to make Wal-Mart and other big box stores pay a livable wage: "I don't think Wal-Mart is going to run away from these big central city markets. People who work should get a livable wage at the end of the week so you have enough to pay your rent and send your kids to school."