In addition, the implication from my friends and allies is that we cannot muster enough support in this body to pass good legislation that would accomplish what the unions really want and what the workers in this city really need. I cannot accept that. This council provided 35 votes to the legislation that did pass. This City Council has demonstrated a willingness to protect the city’s low-wage workers. Let’s do so in a manner that really helps them, all of them.

How many minimum wage earners work at fast food stores? In mid and small size wealthy national chains? In other unprotected industries? Many, many more I believe than those working in stores that have more than 90,000 square feet of retail.

Why can’t we draft several pieces of legislation that accomplish what we want?

Why can’t we draft an across-the-board living wage law that will not create an arbitrary cutoff?

Why can’t we draft a separate benefits package that will stand up to court scrutiny and apply to all service workers?

Why can’t we do the work to figure out how to draft legislation that will protect the mid-sized union shops in this city?

Why must we settle for illusionary political victories when we have a City Council and an active and progressive labor movement that can make real change happen?

I understand that given the strong and numerous national and international economic forces at work that service industry unions are at the vanguard in this era. I truly believe that given the dynamic changes in this nation’s economy and in the economies of big cities like Chicago that more and more of our citizens will end up working low-wage service jobs.

I truly believe that if there is going to be real change it will come from the hard work of service employees—through their organizing and political activism.

I also believe, however, that if the government is going to implement structural change that anticipates this dynamic economic evolution then it has to be real, non-arbitrary, enforceable structural change.

Therefore, today, with a very heavy heart, I vote to sustain Mayor Daley’s veto.