STEVE INSKEEP, host: The business news starts with charges of low pay in a big box.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: A so-called living wage ordinance has lost its life in Chicago. The city council there failed to override Mayor Richard Daley's veto.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: The measure would have forced retailers like Target and Wal-Mart to pay a higher minimum wage. Here's NPR's David Schaper.</s>DAVID SCHAPER: The ordinance would have required retailers with more than 90,000 square feet of space to pay employees at least $13.00 an hour in wages and benefits by 2010. The Chicago City Council approved it in July, over the objections of Mayor Richard Daley, who says the ordinance left the city at a competitive disadvantage.</s>Mayor RICHARD DALEY (Chicago): Well, again, you'd have to create jobs.</s>DAVID SCHAPER: After the July vote, Wal-Mart, Target and other big-box retailers threatened to pull out of planned retail developments in the city.</s>Mayor RICHARD DALEY (Chicago): Basically, they said we'll go right across the street into two suburban areas and build it right there.</s>DAVID SCHAPER: Daley convinced three aldermen to switch sides to defeat an attempt to override his veto. But living wage supporters like alderman Joe Moore aren't giving up.</s>Mr. JOE MOORE (Chicago Alderman): I can assure you that this issue will not go away...</s>Mr. JOE MOORE (Chicago Alderman): ...that the fight for a living wage and for a just society will not abate.</s>DAVID SCHAPER: Moore says he'll introduce a new living wage ordinance next month, while labor and community activists vow to target those who oppose the big-box proposal in next winter's Chicago city elections.</s>DAVID SCHAPER: David Schaper, NPR News, Chicago.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley recently vetoed an ordinance that would have required big-box retailers to provide workers with a higher minimum wage. On Wednesday, the city council tried, but failed, to override his veto.