CHICAGO–Even with working two jobs, one West Side man is barely making it. And with a child on the way, he said he could really benefit from an increase in minimum wage.
“I would be able to live the American dream,” he said. “I would be able to have a car, Internet and phone service, just all of the little things that people take for granted.”
Devondrick Jeffers, along with other Chicago voters, will get asked a series of referenda questions on the Nov. 4 ballot, with one being whether or not they support a minimum wage increase.
Another important referendum question relates to voting rights. Decades later and voting restrictions are still making it more difficult for people, especially African Americans, to vote. This year, Illinois’ voters will get to answer questions on amending the Illinois Constitution. This would make challenging voting laws in court easier.
Making sure that birth control and contraception is covered under health insurance is another question that will be posed to voters. Revising rules on where Illinois’ medical marijuana dispensaries are located will be another. There will also be questions on whether or not gun sales should require background checks and if assault weapons should be banned. For the full list visit www.ChicagoElections.com
They’ll be able to vote on these and other referenda as early as Oct. 20.
The minimum wage increase has been a hot topic in Chicago for months. The proposed $10 is more than Chicago’s current hourly wage of $8.25 an hour, but many still say that it’s not enough. A person like Jeffers, who works 28 hours a week on minimum wage, makes $924 a month before taxes. Chicago’s median gross rent is $935, according to USA.com. If you’re not spending that much on an apartment, you’re probably living in a high crime stricken neighborhood. Republicans expect minimum wage workers, many who have families to support, to their pay rent, utilities, phone bills and more off of less than $1,000 a month.
That way of living is unjust said protestors at a rally last week. On Oct. 7, hundreds of people, including some aldermen, gathered in Daley Plaza to demand that Mayor Rahm Emanuel support a $15 an hour minimum wage. Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) sponsored the ordinance. Local aldermen who would like to see the ordinance passed include Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), Ald. Rick Munoz (22nd), Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd), Ald. Toni Foulkes (15) and Ald. Nicholas Sposato (36). They all agreed that having a job isn’t enough to stay out of poverty.
It’s minorities who are disproportionally affected. According to the National Employment Law Project, more than one out of every three workers in Chicago (38.2 percent) work in jobs that pay less than $15 an hour. More than 45 percent of Black workers earn less than $15 an hour, compared to just fewer than 25 percent of White, non-Hispanic workers. More than 48 percent are working single parents earning less than $15 an hour.
The proposed ordinance would require large companies that make more than $50 million in annual revenue such as Walmart and McDonalds, to raise the minimum wage to $12.50 per hour starting 90 days after the ordinance is passed. Within one year, it will become $15. The smaller companies and businesses would be able to slowly increase the hourly wage to $15 over a four year time period.
Jeffers, an Action Now member, is fighting with others to raise the minimum wage. He said he supports the ordinance because what he makes now is not livable. He has even had to take out a loan to pay rent.
He worked a sales job that wasn’t paying much and when he learned that his girlfriend was pregnant, he got a second job at a call center. He said he spends so much time working, that he is rarely home. He fears that he won’t get to see his first child as much as he would like.
Jeffers isn’t the only one living paycheck to paycheck though. Shatara Uhunmwangho works 38 hours a week at a local Walgreens and is technically homeless. She has a 7-year-old daughter and they have slept in a homeless shelter, as well as her vehicle. Currently, they stay with different friends.
“Affordable housing is an issue for my family and my daughter and I need a stable and affordable place to live,” she said. Her bi-monthly checks of $500 isn’t enough.
Until minimum wage is increased to $15, some people, especially African Americans will continue cycling through homeless shelters and bouncing from friend’s basements and couches, said Dollie Brewer, Women’s Empowerment Senior Organizer for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
“In order to have stable housing, you also need stable income, you need a livable wage, you need a wage that can pay your bills, you need a wage that will not permit you to have to go and get assistance,” she said.
Fighting for people like her and Jeffers was the goal of the rally, which was hosted by The Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC). Organizations across Chicago like Action Now, People for Community Recovery, Raise Chicago, Organizing for Power and more supported it. There were between 200 and 300 people in attendance.
The rally focused on two issues, the $15 an hour minimum wage ordinance and the Keeping the Promise ordinance. The latter would make low-income housing units available to families in need so people like Uhunmwangho can have a place to live. She has been on CHA’s waiting list since 2008. Organizers said they want the Chicago Housing Authority to lease its vacant units and distribute more housing vouchers.
“Everyday the City of Chicago doesn’t do anything, we will continue to be locked out,” Jessie Avraham, a member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC) said.
“Mayor Emanuel needs to know that he is accountable to the voters of Chicago,” Victor McWilliams, a JASC board member said. “It is time for Chicago to pass the $15 minimum wage for Chicago ordinance so that working families and seniors can have the economic security they deserve.”
Jeffers said that he and other people with minimum wage jobs work too hard to still be struggling. The CEOs and presidents of large companies are able to live a life of luxury, while their employees suffer, he said.
“There is no way you can justify making billions annually, but your employees have to supplement their incomes with government welfare,” he said.
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