Defying Mayor Daley and challenging...

Defying Mayor Daley and challenging Wal-Mart and Target to chase through on their threats, a bitterly divided City Council vot Wednesday to require Chicago's big-box retailers to pay employee a "living wage" of at least $10 an hour and $3 in benefits from 2010.

The 35-14 veto-proof ballot is an overwhelming victory for organized labor and the latest in a string of legislative defeats for a corruption-weakened Daley.

"They're afraid of candidates running against them. That's what it is. That was the real issue," Daley said, denying that the ballot was a sign of his diminishing grip forward a Council he once controll with an iron fist.

"I can whirl with the punches on anything."

Thirty-four consecrated by a vows are needed to override a mayoral veto, and union leaders lasted up with 35. Unless Daley can pick distant from at least two votes -- highly unlikely upon such an emotionally charged issue -- a veto is disclosed of the question.

Nevertheless, David Vite, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, exhorted Daley to "tear down this wall and veto the barrier to economic opportunity for all."

The mayor refused to lordship out his first-ever veto.

further chances are he will pin his expectancys on a court challenge promised through the association.

FDR V ROBIN cover

"It affects a [90,000-square-foot] big coachman's seat today. Does it affect someone with 50000 square feet tomorrow [or] 25000? . . Everybody is for a living wage. moreover to only single out common unit -- and they're afraid they'll prompt down. Next week, is it going to be something else? . . Where do you stop? That's the interest that I have . . I have to continue sales tax here some way. It can't all be onward Michigan Avenue," Daley said.

When the make revolve call was finally announced, a packed City Council gallery burst forthed in cheers. Supporters had lined up early to witness a suffrage that could change the economic landscape of Chicago -- and fix a precedent across the nation.

A two-year lobbying campaign waged behind the pageants culminated in more than three hours of debate that aired all of the ancient arguments -- and some of recent origin ones.

Chief sponsor Ald. Joe Moore (49th) likened the living-wage campaign to President Franklin D Roosevelt's efforts 68 years ago to impose a 40-cent-an-hour minimum wage, outlaw child labor and mandate a 40-hour workweek.

"Our piece of work is not to safeguard profits for the world's wealthiest corporations. Our do job-work is to look out for our constituents," he said.

Moore ridiculeed at threats by Wal-Mart and Target to cancel their ambitious expansion plans for Chicago. "There is a beau; gay to be made. A parcel of bucks. They've saturated the rural markets," he said.

Moore's of recent origin Deal comparison did not sit well with his seatmate, Ald. Bernard Stone (50th)

"Instead of wrapping himself in President Roosevelt's cloak, he should be wearing a little cap with a feather. This is Sherwood Forest. My colleague is Robin head cover What he wants to do is steal from the rich and give to the poor," he said.

Nowhere was the bitter division more evident than among African- American aldermen. Nine vot against the ordinance and 10 for it.

Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) said he finds it "amazing" his colleagues are willing to "take the risk" that Wal-Mart and Target are bluffing. "When it approachs to the West Side, 'Let's gamble.' They're willing to gamble with my side of town," he said.

Ald. ed Smith (28th), chairman of the Council's Black Caucus, took the opposite view. He instanted charts to show the average Wal- Mart employee is paid $770 an hour and $16016 a year, while Wal- Mart CEO side sheltered from the wind Scott rakes in $16,826 an hour (based forward a 40-hour week) and $349 million a year. "How can I rehearse Mrs. Jones that I won't support an extra $2 an hour?" he said.

The mayor has branded the ordinance "redlining," arguing it would deprive impoverished African-American communities of piece of works places to shop and receiptss

COMMITMENTS MADE TO LABOR

Underscoring Daley's claim, Wal-Mart and Target threatened to abandon Chicago expansion.

Wal-Mart warned it could cancel plans to build as many as 20 novel Chicago Wal-Marts over the nearest five years. Target put plans to build three southern Side stores "on hold" -- and made thinly veiled threats to complete existing stores.

further in the end, none of that saber-rattling mattered.

Aldermen had made commitments to organized labor month ago. They were not about to renege -- and example labor's threat to run candidates against sitting aldermen.

The ordinance that will make Chicago the nation's largest city to mandate wage and benefit standards for retailing giants will be phased in, beginning with mandatory pay of $925 an hour and $150 in benefits onward July 1, 2007, and ending July 1 2010 with $10 an hour and $3 in benefits. After that, the "living wage" would be raised annually to match the rate of inflation.

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association has vowed a court challenge.

The association has a legal opinion that the ordinance would interfere with interstate system of exchanges violate the equal-protection clauses of the state and federal constitutions by dint of singling out large retailers, and exce the city's household rule powers.