NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & SportsCouncilman Wants Wage Increase for Government Employees

Councilman Wants Wage Increase for Government Employees

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The nation's economy is struggling, and the downturn is affecting some more than others. A local group believes that Nashville's own city workers are among those left behind.

Most people are familiar with the concept of a minimum wage, but it doesn't take an economist to know that surviving on $5.80 an hour is virtually impossible. Many in the city are now calling for creation of a "living wage" in Nashville

They held up signs that remind some of the signs during Martin Luther King's struggle for equality. They were reminders that the struggle continues.

"It becomes a moral issue. I can't call myself a Christian unless I am concerned about my brother and sister who are doing the right thing- working," said Metro Councilmember Jerry Maynard. "He really fought for the working class and for the rights of the working man."

Metro Councilman Jerry Maynard discovered that city workers were among those struggling the most: working, but barely surviving.

Metro employee, Trista Boseman has seen the need firsthand.

"I work with co-workers now who struggle to even provide food for their children, and yet they're working for the city government," said Boseman.

Councilman Maynard and others started campaigning for the creation of a fair living wage for Metro employees.  Vanderbilt ethics Professor Melissa Snarr released a study explaining what that wage should be.

"What would a Metro employee need to be paid to be able to live in Davidson County and survive, clothe their children, feed their kids...all that stuff? And $10.35 is the number with healthcare," said Snar.

While bringing a living wage to Nashville sounds like an impossible task, Snarr said 177 other cities have one.

"A number of cities, New York City, Chicago. You think of a big city, they probably have a living wage ordinance," said Snar.

Perhaps Nashville will soon have a living wage ordinance as well. Maynard plans to bring the idea before the Metro Council next year.

"I believe that if you work for the Metro Government you should not be at the poverty level. You should not even be close to the poverty line," said Maynard.

Several local interfaith groups participated in Sunday's meeting to discuss a living wage. 

They plan to work with local businesses and city officials to help raise wages in the private sector as well as in metro government. The living wage in Memphis is currently $10.00 an hour.