Daley Weighing In For South Side Wal-Mart

Alderman Howard Brookins looks at a vacant South Side lot and is more optimistic than he ever has been.The 21st Ward alderman says he WILL get a Wal-Mart and the jobs that come with it after a years-long fight.

"This would be it," says Brookins as he points out the empty corner in the Chatham Community neighborhood.  "We're glad the mayor has weighed in on the squabble between the unions and Wal-Mart."

His optimism is fueled by a new push from Mayor Daley and an army of influential South Side ministers.

The mayor wants the ministers to help forge a deal to bring Wal-Mart to Chatham.

"You know who's gonna start brokering things?" Daley asked at a press conference Saturday.  "All these religious leaders.  They have members of their congregations that can't get work.  They can't get work, they can't even get a decent job!"

Key aldermen and unions oppose Wal-Mart because it employs a non-union workforce.

Mayor Daley wants all three parties to cut a deal because the city simply needs jobs in the tough recession.

Alderman Brookins agrees.

"People could have been working here already.  And the economy for the City of Chicago and the African American community would not have been as bad had we done this thing four years ago."

The big sticking point in the dispute?  Wal-Mart's starting wage is $8 dollars-an-hour.  The Unions want at least $11 dollars-an-hour.

Wal-Mart has said it won't negotiate.

The mayor?  He says just get it done.

"There are people out here who need a job.  Some aldermen say $10 dollars is not alot of money an hour.  It's hard to believe they don't think $10 dollars-an-hour is not a lot of money for someone to work."