Nataki Rhodes, a local food-service industry worker who while speaking at last week's Women Employed Working Lunch event shared her struggle of working a minimum wage job, is just one of many advocates for an increased minimum wage in Chicago.
Rhodes, who works full time and picks up extra jobs on the side, said she is still not earning enough to pay her bills. “I live on the South Side of Chicago,” she told the audience. “This is my rent notice, because I’m late with my rent,” Rhodes said while holding up a white sheet of paper. “And I work every day.”
Zeynep Ton, author of the book "The Good Jobs Strategy," furthered the case for a minimum wage increase. Ton drew on years of research in claiming that business operations are more successful overall when the company invests in its employees. “When you don’t invest in your people, then you have these operational problems,” she said. “The operational problems reduce sales and profits then sales are lowered. Now you don’t have a labor budget to invest in your people.”
Anne Ladky, executive director of Women Employed, added that it is the mission of the organization to support women workers who are looking to make a difference.
“What we believe at Women Employed is that everyone can do something,” Ladky said. “You can raise awareness of these issues, you can talk to a legislator or alderman, you can change the way you invest your money or where you dine and shop. You can stand up and use your influence in the civic area and in your professional life.”
-Katie Cliff