Lake County News Sun - Community Rallies in Waukegan to Support Raising Minimum Wage

News Article

For Thelma Forbes of Beach Park, it breaks her heart to watch her 18-year-old granddaughter working long hours at a Taco Bell making minimum wage while struggling to save for college.

Forbes's has twin granddaughters who graduated from high school last spring, but their mother can only afford to send one to college.

"My granddaughter works her minimum wage job and she can't even pay for gas, let alone build up savings for college," Forbes said. "It's not a livable wage, and I can't provide much help because I'm retired."

Forbes was part of a group of advocates for a statewide minimum wage increase who showed up Saturday morning at a rally for U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL10) of Deerfield in downtown Waukegan.

The crowd of about 40 people -- some wearing T-shirts printed with slogans about raising the minimum wage -- chanted and cheered after Schneider and City of Waukegan Alderman Sean Cunningham attempted to rile up the crowd with motivational remarks about the need for a wage increase.

Schneider, who faces Republican Bob Dold in the November election, has highlighted his support for a minimum wage increase during his campaign for reelection.

"Anyone working hard in the U.S. should be able to provide for their family," Schneider said, "which isn't possible for someone making minimum wage."

A nonbinding referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot will ask voters whether the state minimum wage should be hiked to $10.

The advisory referendum wouldn't force a change in state wage laws, but if the measure passes, it could provide backing for Democrats pushing for legislation to increase the hourly rate.

The last time the current $8.25 minimum wage was increased was in 2005.

Retired teacher Beverly Jones of North Chicago said the jobs available to today's teenagers and college students are different compared to her generation.

Jones's parents made a solid living while working in a steel mill, earning enough to live comfortably and send their children to college.

Today, it's quite a different story.

Jones's son moved out to California recently to go to college, but he had to put his plans on hold to save money while working a minimum wage job, she said.

"He wants to go to school, but college is unaffordable, even when you factor in student loans," Jones said. "I can't understand why (the minimum wage) hasn't changed."

Someone working a full-time minimum wage job at McDonalds, for example, would take in roughly $330 per week, or about $17,000 per year before taxes.

Waukegan resident Richard Watson is a retired teacher who showed up to support Schneider's "Raise the Minimum Wage" rally Saturday.

Although Watson doesn't have any family members earning minimum wage, he expressed concern about people in the community struggling to earn a living while working restaurant or retail jobs.

"I have no idea how people at McDonald's or WalMart make it earning these wages," Watson said. "I don't understand how they can survive."

About 50 people -- many of them fast-food workers -- were arrested in the Chicago area on Thursday during two separate rallies pushing for a $15 hourly rate.

Speaking at Schneider's rally Saturday, Cunningham said the problems that exist in Cook County mirror Lake County.

"You have good people who want to work hard for their dollars, but when you can't afford to pay your bills and feed your family, you have to find other means," Cunningham said.

Source