Labor Groups Sues Walker Administration Over ‘Living Wage’ Complaints

The labor group Wisconsin Jobs Now is suing Gov. Scott Walker’s administration for refusing to investigate complaints from low-wage workers who claim the state’s minimum wage is not a living wage.

Earlier this month, the Department of Workforce Development rejected the complaints of 100 workers who said their wages don’t comply with a state law that says “wages shall not be less than a living wage.” That’s defined as ensuring “reasonable comfort, decency and moral wellbeing.”

Peter Rickman of Wisconsin Jobs Now said the language of this statute has been used by other governors: “Gov. Doyle working though a wage advisory council chaired by Kurt Culver of Culver’s restaurant, Gov. Thompson doing so in a variety of different incarnations, and previous governors have all used this to increase the minimum wage. What is unique about this particular instance is that the process has been driven by low-wage workers themselves.”

Rickman said usually calls for raising the wage come from the Legislature or the governor.

John Dipko of the Department of Workforce Development said most of the workers who complained about their wages are making more than the state’s $7.25-per-hour minimum wage. The department has also said many low-wage workers also receive food benefits or other government assistance that effectively raises their wage.

Ed Lump of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association called the lawsuit a campaign stunt funded by labor unions seeking to defeat Walker.

“They’re spending literally thousands upon thousands of dollars not so much to raise the minimum wage as to discredit what in our opinion is very successful governor,” said Lump.

Lump said that if the wage were raised, restaurants owners would have to lay off workers. Supporters of change, however, say states that raised the wage recently actually saw the number of jobs increase.