Rally to be held in Westport this evening over Missouri Restaurant Association’s referendum against new minimum wage ordinance

Two weeks ago, the Kansas City Council voted a near-unanimous 12-1 in favor of gradually increasing the minimum wage within city limits to $13 an hour by 2020, with an immediate boost to $8.50 an hour as of August 24. The victory for low-wage workers came after two years of local protests.

The Missouri Restaurant Association opposes the increase, and for the last week has had people out collecting signatures for a referendum opposing the new ordinance. Last Friday, they turned in 100 signatures to the city clerk’s office, signaling their intent to put a referendum on the ballot. A referendum petition must be signed by registered voters of Kansas City equal in number to at least 10 percent of the total votes cast for candidates for the office of mayor at the last preceding regular municipal election, according to the city clerk’s office. Due to the pathetic voter turnout this past April, that means the group — which goes by the Orwellian name Missourians for Fair Wages — needs only to collect about 3,400 signatures to get the referendum on a ballot. 

This evening, a rally will be held at Pioneer Park, at the corner of Broadway and Westport Road. A group of workers and community leaders, including Rev. Rodney Williams of Swope Parkway United Christian Church; Russell Clay of SEIU Local 1; and Sharon al-Uqdah of Jobs with Justice will demand Vic Allred, chairman of the Missouri Restaurant Association, immediately withdraw his referendum. 

Participants are meeting at Pioneer Park at 5:15 p.m. and will afterward walk through the streets of Westport. 

UPDATE. From the Missouri Restaurant Association, in response to Jobs with Justice’s rally: 

It is shamefully incorrect to single out Vic Allred, president of the Missouri Restaurant Association, related to the referendum recently presented by Missourians for Fair Wages. Missourians for Fair Wages represents approximately 20 different business groups that support workers and job growth throughout Missouri, including the Hotel & Lodging Association, Chambers of Commerce and Retail Grocers Association, among others.

This coalition of businesses in Kansas City and throughout the state is advocating to keep Missouri competitive and open for business. We are in favor of one, uniform minimum wage rate throughout the state. In the interest of job creation and a business climate that attracts employers to Missouri, minimum wage decisions should be made by the state legislature and the Governor in Jefferson City.