Living Wage

Paper Summary:

The paper states that the movement for a living wage is gaining traction, though proponents still have a long way to go to make this a reality across most of the country. The paper comments that opponents still claim that such laws will destroy the economy, and they do so in spite of studies showing that the laws do no such thing and may even bring major benefits. The paper confirms that the issue is unsettled but also coming to the fore. The paper discusses the battle over living wage ordinances, which is currently being fought, one municipality at a time, though the time may come when a larger law is sought and passed to cover an entire state.

From the Paper:

"The idea of a living wage has been embodied in a number of different types of ordinance across the country, sometimes directed at all retail establishments, sometimes at only one type of business. An ordinance in Baltimore is one of the most common type applying to contractors, and in Baltimore, any contractor providing services to the city must pay employees at least $7.90 an hour. In Detroit, the ordinance calls for a payment of $8.83 per hour and applies to city contractors and recipients of subsidies, including nonprofits. In Pittsburgh, the cost is $7.73 per hour with benefits, and the law applies to city employees, city contractors, recipients of subsidies, and businesses and contractors that receive tax breaks or other assistance from the city. Santa Monica in California is considering the most extensive such ordinance, this one calling for $9.45 per hour with benefits applying to all businesses with fifty or more employees in the city's tourist center and to all companies doing business with the city or receiving grants or subsidies from the city."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Comerford, M. (2006, June 29). Living Wage Challenged Why Chicago's Pay Plan Won't Work in the Suburbs. Daily Herald, 1.
• Critics assail living wage study (2002). United Press International, retrieved August 19, 2007 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-84649824.html.,
• Daniel, C. (2004, March 22). The myths of the living wage. Business Perspectives. Retrieved August 19, 2007 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-118376814.html.
• Fine, H. (2006, November 20). Businesses planning referendum to block living wage. Los Angeles Business Journal, retrieved August 19, 2007 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-155737409.html.
• Fine, H. (2007, February n19). LAX hotels, city making their cases: court likely next stop for fight over living wage law. Los Angeles Business Journal, retrieved August 19, 2007 from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-161275288.html.

More papers on Living Wage:

• Analytical Essay # 133620 : "Living Wage Debate"
• Persuasive Essay # 144384 : "Not to Mandate a Living Wage"
• Argumentative Essay # 104152 : "The Living-Wage Debate"
• Argumentative Essay # 53691 : "A Living Wage Will Work"

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