Democratic Party Feud in Chicago: White Union Bosses Versus Blacks

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Flanked by a quartet of African-American ministers, an emotional Mayor Richard M. Daley Monday stepped up his opposition to the pending “big box” minimum wage ordinance, suggesting that its passage would be unfair to minority neighborhoods that are desperate for jobs.

But despite frequent lectern-pounding and arm-waving, the mayor once again declined to say if he’ll veto the bill if, as expected, it is approved by the City Council at its meeting Wednesday.

“Let’s first have a debate on the issue, explained Mr. Daley, adding he would not want to deprive aldermen who deserve their “profiles in courage” moment.

In a City Hall press conference, Mr. Daley clearly suggested without explicitly saying so that mostly white union bosses who ignored the growth of low-wage retailers in the suburbs have decided to make an example of Chicago as part of their feud with Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., regardless of the impact on poor city
“Not one person objected” when Wal-Mart opened stores in Forest Park, Bedford Park, Niles, Northlake and a dozen other suburbs,” Mr. Daley declared. “Not one.

“If the suburbs have it, why can’t parts of this city have it?” he asked.

At the same time, Mr. Daley suggested that many white aldermen who are for the ordinance already have off-priced retailers in their wards but are getting upset only now that Wal-Mart has begun to move into the inner city market.

In Chicago,unions haven't been such good friends to African-Americans but they sure are tight with the Chicago Outfit.