2008 Woodie Awards
Minimum wage debate rages on in Greensboro
Megan Feil
Issue date: 2/16/08 Section: Features
"Raising wages seems like a no-brainer," said senior Malcolm Kenton, member of the Minimum Wage Committee. "If you give people more money, they can raise their own standard of living. When there's an unequal wage disparity, there's not enough opportunity for true democracy."
"Businesses might have (to) cut back on what they can do, they might expect more from their workers, they could raise prices or lay off workers, and some might be forced to close down," said Bob Williams, professor of economics. "On the positive side, because people have more income they will spend more, creating more jobs to offset those lost."
City Council members are divided on the issue.
"Before you say this is a great idea, remember the employers who are giving people jobs - they'd lose money," Rakestraw said.
"We know some people are doing well and can buy mansions but there is a group of working people who can't even afford rent," council member Goldie Wells said in a phone interview. "Those who have been blessed need to share with those who haven't been as fortunate. Maybe that's a foreign thing to some people."
The Minimum Wage Committee rallied support and six members spoke during the Feb. 5 meeting.
"I think what you've done is wrong and a subversion of the democratic process in Greensboro," Jim Boyett, the committee's co-chair, told the council.
"After spending so much personal energy and effort, in all weather extremes, being outside gathering signatures for the petition, only to have it approved and then denied and gone through so much legal riga-ma-ra is an insult, frankly," Kenton said.
The Minimum Wage Committee met outside the meeting room to discuss how to proceed. Statements such as "It's not over" and "This is just the beginning" were repeated as well as comments expressing general disgust towards the politics of the endeavor.
"8,000 people have signed the petition whether or not their names are certified," said the committee's co-chair Marilyn Baird. "The fact is that they support the cause and that means something and we will continue to fight for this."
"Businesses might have (to) cut back on what they can do, they might expect more from their workers, they could raise prices or lay off workers, and some might be forced to close down," said Bob Williams, professor of economics. "On the positive side, because people have more income they will spend more, creating more jobs to offset those lost."
City Council members are divided on the issue.
"Before you say this is a great idea, remember the employers who are giving people jobs - they'd lose money," Rakestraw said.
"We know some people are doing well and can buy mansions but there is a group of working people who can't even afford rent," council member Goldie Wells said in a phone interview. "Those who have been blessed need to share with those who haven't been as fortunate. Maybe that's a foreign thing to some people."
The Minimum Wage Committee rallied support and six members spoke during the Feb. 5 meeting.
"I think what you've done is wrong and a subversion of the democratic process in Greensboro," Jim Boyett, the committee's co-chair, told the council.
"After spending so much personal energy and effort, in all weather extremes, being outside gathering signatures for the petition, only to have it approved and then denied and gone through so much legal riga-ma-ra is an insult, frankly," Kenton said.
The Minimum Wage Committee met outside the meeting room to discuss how to proceed. Statements such as "It's not over" and "This is just the beginning" were repeated as well as comments expressing general disgust towards the politics of the endeavor.
"8,000 people have signed the petition whether or not their names are certified," said the committee's co-chair Marilyn Baird. "The fact is that they support the cause and that means something and we will continue to fight for this."
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