Activists are continuing their push Wednesday for the Responsible Business Act in Cook County by protesting at a Walmart in Chicago.
Organizers with IIRON, ONE Northside, and National People's Action are protesting at the Walmart at 570 W. Monroe St.
Under the Responsible Business Act, introduced in October by Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele (D-Chicago), large corporations in Cook County would be required to either pay workers a living wage or a fee to help fund public services.
"Big corporations like Walmart inflate their profits by paying poverty wages. But when Walmart forces workers to rely on the social safety net to survive, they are intentionally sticking taxpayers with the tab," Pascal Brixel, chair of IIRON's Good Jobs Task Force, said in a statement. "We're saying enough is enough. The Responsible Business Act charges big corporations a fee if they refuse to pay a living wage. Corporations have a responsibility to pay people enough to make ends meet. Our social safety net should be there when families have emergencies, not to line the pockets of CEOs."
Activists say they need support from three more Cook County commissioners to pass the legislation.
"We're also asking Cook County commissioners, 'Which side are you on?'" said ONE Northside leader and fast food worker Wayne Hayer. "Will you stand up for workers and taxpayers? Or will you help allow Walmart and other multi-billion dollar corporations pad their profits by pushing the real cost of doing business onto the people of Cook County?"
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3 comments:
They already do through property taxes, federal, state and local income taxes and retail sales taxes.
Sand Box John
Yes they do 9:03 but they should also be paying employees enough so they don't have to collect welfare benefits. Approx 85% of Walmart employees are on welfare many of them 2 or 3 types or more. Consumers think they are getting good prices when they shop at Walmart but the hidden costs are astronomical. This is why we are saddled with a tax and a fee for everything under the sun. One of the government's biggest expenses is welfare benefits so they have to get money for roads, schools, public safety so they implement more taxes and fees.
@9:30 AM
Did it ever occur to you that if those taxes I mentioned above were not so high and regulatory compliance weren't so burdensome these folks would not need be collecting welfare benefits?
A little factoid for you, roughly 30% of the costs all goods and service go to the government in the form of taxes. That 30% is before the retailer adds the retail sails tax where it is applicable.
Sand Box John
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