The minimum wage battle continues as Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett signs an ordinance to increase the minimum wage in Milwaukee and the Main Street Coalition for Economic Growth waits for a summary judgment decision on their case against the city of Madison.
According to Ald. Austin King, District 8, Barrett’s decision will not affect the outcome of the lawsuit, which seeks to end the minimum wage increase in Madison.
“What it means is that there is yet another city attorney that looked at the law and saw very clearly we have the right to do this,” King said. “If anything, it’s another indication that we will win.”
King said from a political standpoint, the unanimous passing of the Milwaukee minimum wage ordinance is a huge victory.
Sara Stinski, public relations director for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, a member of the group of businesses who filed the lawsuit against Madison, said she hopes the actions of Barrett will affect the legislature.
The coalition is pushing for a statewide minimum wage increase as opposed to increases in individual municipalities.
The Main Street Coalition for Economic Growth hoped to temporarily suspend Madison’s minimum wage increase, which went into effect Jan. 1, through an injunction, but the request was denied in January.
Because the injunction was denied, King said the city has every expectation they will win.
“Frankly, the big business lobbyists on the other side of the courtroom know that, too,” King added.
Susan Schmitz, president of Downtown Madison, Inc., said she has heard both sides of the story. Some say individual minimum wages across the state will encourage people to relocate while others say it will have no effect, she added.
“If we, as a state, could do it and make a statement — now that is powerful,” Shmitz said. “It’s unfortunate that it has to come from these individual municipalities.”
George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said more cities around Wisconsin, including Lacrosse, are considering following the trend set by Madison and Milwaukee.
“Hopefully, [Milwaukee’s minimum wage increase] will show the special interest groups that the issue is not going away,” Twigg said adding that instead of “suing their way out of a problem” their efforts would be more beneficial if put towards “the legislative Republicans who are blocking such increases.”
Shmitz said the members of DMI are sorry the lawsuit against the city had to happen. Members of DMI wish the city had listened to their proposed changes to the minimum wage law, which focused mainly on amending the length of time to phase in the ordinance and the wages of tipped employees, she added.
“I don’t think anyone’s happy about the lawsuit,” Schmitz said.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi will decide the future of the case and the proposal for summary judgment March 30.
