SWOPblogger

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

An ad by the Coalition to Exhort Ballot Deception that ran in this Sunday's Journal is a case study in the slimy world of media front groups.

Under surely focus-group-tested names, powerful institutions and people masquerade as ordinary citizen watch dogs. In this case, institutions and businesses against an increase in the minimum wage are offering up a classic switcheroo. With classic distortion, deflection and deception.

Not once do pro low-wagers say they're against raising the minimum wage simply because they don't want to pay higher wages. Instead low-wage proponents say they're against an accountability clause that allows for workers to get simple information regarding the wage hike.

They'd really try to have folks believe that a simple wage hike will overturn every privacy law on the books.

The clause, low-wage backers say, "...allows complete strangers to enter your child's school."

I hope folks don't really believe this type of fear mongering. The truth is, no one can enter your child's school without getting permission by signing up as a visitor.

Not Military Recruiters. Not Community Organizers. Not even guest speakers.

The clause in question is as follows:

Section 5. Notice; Posting and Records.

(A) Notice to Employees. Every Employer shall post in a conspicuous place at any workplace or job site where any Employee works a notice published each year by the City Attorney informing Employees of the current Minimum Wage Rates and of their rights under this ordinance. Every Employer shall post such notices in English, Spanish and any other language spoken by at least five percent of Employees at the workplace or jobsite. Every Employer shall also provide each Employee at the time of hire the Employer’s name, address and telephone number in writing. Every Employer shall allow any member of the public to access non-work areas of the Employer’s business that are otherwise open to the public or customers generally, such as parking lots, sidewalks, and pedestrian areas, to inform Employees of their rights under this ordinance and other laws. [emphasis added for clarity]

Basically, all it says is that members of the pubic must have access to areas already open to customers and the public. How that turns into the slippery slope claimed by pro low-wagers, I'll never know.

Interestingly, the ordinance also allows for the wage hike to pass if by some radical interpretation some judge deems the accountability clause unconstitutional or invalid for any reason.

The language in the ordinance is as follows:

Section 10. Severability Clause. If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or phrase of this ordinance, or any requirement imposed or credit authorized pursuant to it, or the application therof to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this ordinance, or their application to other persons or circumstances. It is hereby declared that this ordinance and each section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or phrase therof would have been passed irrespective of any provision being declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid.

So, if you believe full time employees deserve low wages, by all means vote against the ordinance.

But if you believe full time employees deserve a chance to support their families through dignified wages, vote for the ordinance.

Don't be fooled by low-wage proponents.

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albuquerque living wage ordinance
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