CITY OF SAN DIEGO VOTERS, SIGN THE PETITION!
First of all, the petition to put the minimum wage ordinance on the ballot is just that. It’s a petition. Signing the petition does not change the ordinance; it only allows all City voters to weigh in on the issue at the next election.
When you hear radio or television ads against the petition, pay attention at the end of the message to see who paid for it. There will be several names then something like “with major support from xxxx union”. Unions are paying for these ads. Why? Why are unions supporting the minimum wage?
Because most union contract pay scales are based on the minimum wage. A plumber’s helper at a union shop may get minimum wage plus $5 per hour, for example. So this will increase union worker’s wages.
But there is more to it. If union worker’s wages go up, so do union dues, bringing more money into union coffers. Unions then will have more money to support sympathetic candidates for public offices and to influence votes on issues like the minimum wage. If that is what you want, don’t sign the petition. If not, sign it!
Sign it when they come to your door. Sign it when you see the signature gatherers when you are shopping. Sign it! There isn’t much time.
allenlphillips 